diff --git a/.readthedocs.yml b/.readthedocs.yml
index 73325127..3b8f2f40 100644
--- a/.readthedocs.yml
+++ b/.readthedocs.yml
@@ -8,6 +8,16 @@ build:
   os: "ubuntu-22.04"
   tools:
     python: "3.10"
+  jobs:
+    #build an environment
+    pre-install:
+      - export CUSTOM_ENV_DIR= /docs/build/
+      - mkdir -p $CUSTOM_ENV_DIR
+      - conda env create -p $CUSTOM_ENV_DIR -f docs/source/environment.yml
+      - export READTHEDOCS_VIRTUALENV_PATH=$CUSTOM_ENV_DIR
+    post_install:
+      # Run the build commands within the specified environment
+      - conda run -p $READTHEDOCS_VIRTUALENV_PATH sphinx-build -M html docs/source/ docs/build/
 
 python:
   install: