Environment The environment includes everything that surrounds us. It can be living (biotic) or non-living (abiotic) things. It includes physical, chemical, and other natural forces. Living things live in their environment. They constantly interact with it and adapt themselves to conditions in their environment. In the environment, there are different interactions between animals, plants, soil, water, and other living and non-living things. Since everything is part of the environment of something else, the word environment is used to talk about many things. People in different fields of knowledge use the word environment differently. The electromagnetic environment is radio waves and other electromagnetic radiation and magnetic fields. The environment of the galaxy refers to conditions of the interstellar medium.