Poland, like other post-communist countries, is undergoing a transformation into a capitalist system. This transformation affects the country in many ways: economic, social, psychological and also ecological. Ecological problems are strongly connected with the political, economic and psychological inheritance of the past, as well as with changes in the post-communist society. In order to understand these problems, it is necessary to consider the following issues:
- the geographic situation of Poland
- the political transformations that occurred after World War II – forced development of heavy industry combined with neglect of its effects on the environment, and
- the economic problems

The three main goals of Environmental Engineering V are (I) to assess the state of scientific research in various areas of environmental engineering. (II) to evaluate organizational, technical and technological progress in contributing to ecological security, and (III) to determine the place of environmental engineering in sustainable development, taking into account political and economic conditions.

Environmental Engineering V is of interest for academics, engineers and professionals involved in environmental engineering, seeking solutions for environmental problems in emerging new democracies, especially those who plan to participate in numerous projects sponsored by the European Union.