Miljöteknik

Miljøteknik, or environmental engineering, is the engineering discipline that uses science and technology to protect the environment, manage natural resources, and safeguard public health. It covers planning, design, operation, and management of systems that prevent pollution and reduce environmental footprints, supporting sustainable development in communities and industries.

Core domains include water and wastewater treatment; solid and hazardous waste management and recycling; air quality control; groundwater and soil remediation; environmental monitoring and risk assessment; and environmental impact assessment. Practitioners apply chemical, biological, and physical processes, modeling, and data analytics to design infrastructures, optimize remediation projects, and support policy and regulatory compliance.

Miljøteknik integrates engineering with chemistry, biology, geology, and information technology, and it intersects with policy, economics, and public health. Professionals work in municipalities, engineering consultancies, water utilities, industry, and research institutions, contributing to sustainable infrastructure, climate adaptation, pollution prevention, and the transition to a circular economy.

In Danish and Nordic contexts, miljørteknik is the term for this discipline and is taught at degree levels such as bachelor’s and master’s in environmental engineering. The field emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration, evidence-based decision making, and the practical implementation of technologies that protect environments while enabling economic and societal development.