environmental

Environmental is an adjective relating to the environment, the surrounding system in which organisms live, including natural components such as air, water, soil, and living ecosystems, as well as human-made surroundings. The term is used in contexts ranging from ecological health and climate to urban planning and public policy, often with emphasis on the impacts of human activity on natural and social environments.

In academia and policy, environmental appears in fields such as environmental science, environmental policy, environmental law, and environmental engineering. Environmental science is an interdisciplinary study of how natural and artificial systems interact, covering ecology, geology, meteorology, chemistry, and toxicology. The term also frames discussions about how societies manage resources, reduce pollution, and adapt to changing conditions.

Common topics include pollution, resource management, climate change, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development. Environmental impact assessment is a planning tool used to predict and mitigate potential effects of projects on ecosystems and human communities. Environmental justice addresses the fair distribution of environmental benefits and burdens among different populations.

Data collection and management underpin environmental work, with monitoring networks, remote sensing, and modeling informing decisions aimed at reducing pollution, conserving resources, and improving resilience. The concept of environmental stewardship emphasizes responsibility for protecting the natural world while supporting human well-being.