I'm a little confused about what exactly environmental engineers do. Do they mostly just consult companies or do they develop new technologies to help prevent pollution?

Would I have to get a higher degree to be involved with developing new technologies than I would for just consulting companies? If I were developing new technologies, who would I be working for? A University? The government? Private organizations? How hard is it to find a job developing new pollution preventing technologies? I was also wondering how much chemistry and public speaking is normally involved in environmental engineering since I'm not very good at either of those (I'm mostly interested in preventing air pollution).