The actions and practices of business enterprises play a significant role in mitigating or worsening the pressure on planetary health, even though governments determine law and policy. The technical rigor of an engineering perspective uniquely enables innovation over the entire business cycle of products and services, enabling optimal trade-offs between performance, environmental impact, and cost. These skills, applied to business practices, will enable a commerce system that practices innovation for environmental sustainability rather than risk avoidance and minimal compliance.

This book presents a series of focused chapters on key environmental sustainability topics, including the global carbon cycle, water scarcity and water stress, the water-energy nexus, ecosystem services, biodiversity, all in the context of corporate risk and impact mitigation. Each chapter provides technical insights and practical implications for engineers, professionals, and students. The book integrates scientific principles with real-world case studies and industry data, offering a comprehensive understanding of sustainability challenges and solutions. The book also addresses pressing global sustainability issues from an engineering perspective, bridging environmental sustainability and technological innovation. It supports the transition to sustainable practices in industry and academia by providing actionable knowledge and data-driven insights.

This book is intended for anyone with an engineering or science background who wants to operationalize environmental sustainability initiatives at corporations. These skills, applied to business practices, will enable a commerce system that practices innovation for environmental sustainability rather than risk avoidance and minimal compliance.

Dr. Inez Hua is a Professor of Sustainability Engineering and Environmental Engineering and Civil and Environmental Engineering at Purdue University, and a nationally recognized researcher and educator. Dr. Hua is a leading expert in sustainable electronics, industrial water use, and environmental photochemistry. Her research spans advanced oxidation technologies for water treatment to the environmental impacts of computing infrastructure, with a strong focus on societal impact. She has served as a technical advisor to the federal government and international agencies, and she has consulted with major corporations on environmental sustainability. Dr. Hua earned her PhD and MS in Environmental Engineering and Science from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), and her BA in Biochemistry from the University of California, Berkeley.