Environmental protection activities are activities whose principal goal is the prevention, reduction and elimination of pollution and other forms of environmental degradation. They include, but are not limited to, the prevention, reduction or treatment of waste and waste water; the prevention, reduction or elimination of gas emissions; treatment of soil and polluted groundwater; prevention or reduction of noise levels and vibrations; the protection of biodiversity and landscapes, along with their ecological functions; monitoring of the quality of the natural environment (air, water, soil and groundwater); research and development in environmental protection; and activities related to general administration, training and teaching oriented towards environmental protection.

Environmental protection activities are described in the Classification of Environmental Protection Activities (CEPA)