The programmes of environmental education for engineers at Riga Technical University have been developed since 1980, but the concept of this education is still the subject of discussion. The recent restructuring of the programmes of environmental engineering education has occurred as a consequence of the specific needs of Latvia. The present situation in Latvia—the changes towards democracy and a free market economy—demands a deep understanding of sustainable development. From September 1996, the common compulsory course ‘Principles of environmental engineering’ will be added into the programmes of all eight faculties of Riga Technical University. Consequently, all the graduates—Bachelors, Engineers and Masters—will be able to implement knowledge of environmental science into other scientific fields, real technologies and technical projects.