diff --git a/cosmos/operators/base.py b/cosmos/operators/base.py
index 94d5d4a8ca..b9f25758dc 100644
--- a/cosmos/operators/base.py
+++ b/cosmos/operators/base.py
@@ -43,10 +43,11 @@ class AbstractDbtBaseOperator(BaseOperator, metaclass=ABCMeta):
         environment variables for the new process; these are used instead
         of inheriting the current process environment, which is the default
         behavior. (templated)
-    :param append_env: If False(default) uses the environment variables passed in env params
-        and does not inherit the current process environment. If True, inherits the environment variables
+    :param append_env: . If True (default), inherits the environment variables
         from current passes and then environment variable passed by the user will either update the existing
-        inherited environment variables or the new variables gets appended to it
+        inherited environment variables or the new variables gets appended to it.
+        If False, only uses the environment variables passed in env params
+        and does not inherit the current process environment.
     :param output_encoding: Output encoding of bash command
     :param skip_exit_code: If task exits with this exit code, leave the task
         in ``skipped`` state (default: 99). If set to ``None``, any non-zero
@@ -99,7 +100,7 @@ def __init__(
         db_name: str | None = None,
         schema: str | None = None,
         env: dict[str, Any] | None = None,
-        append_env: bool = False,
+        append_env: bool = True,
         output_encoding: str = "utf-8",
         skip_exit_code: int = 99,
         partial_parse: bool = True,
diff --git a/tests/operators/test_azure_container_instance.py b/tests/operators/test_azure_container_instance.py
index 01fa3e20e3..a99525ac30 100644
--- a/tests/operators/test_azure_container_instance.py
+++ b/tests/operators/test_azure_container_instance.py
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ def test_dbt_azure_container_instance_operator_get_env(p_context_to_airflow_vars
         name="my-aci",
         resource_group="my-rg",
         project_dir="my/dir",
+        append_env=False,
     )
     dbt_base_operator.env = {
         "start_date": "20220101",
@@ -90,6 +91,7 @@ def test_dbt_azure_container_instance_operator_check_environment_variables(
         resource_group="my-rg",
         project_dir="my/dir",
         environment_variables={"FOO": "BAR"},
+        append_env=False,
     )
     dbt_base_operator.env = {
         "start_date": "20220101",
diff --git a/tests/operators/test_docker.py b/tests/operators/test_docker.py
index ad3ec54852..2cfb6b835e 100644
--- a/tests/operators/test_docker.py
+++ b/tests/operators/test_docker.py
@@ -73,10 +73,7 @@ def test_dbt_docker_operator_get_env(p_context_to_airflow_vars: MagicMock, base_
     If an end user passes in a
     """
     dbt_base_operator = base_operator(
-        conn_id="my_airflow_connection",
-        task_id="my-task",
-        image="my_image",
-        project_dir="my/dir",
+        conn_id="my_airflow_connection", task_id="my-task", image="my_image", project_dir="my/dir", append_env=False
     )
     dbt_base_operator.env = {
         "start_date": "20220101",
diff --git a/tests/operators/test_kubernetes.py b/tests/operators/test_kubernetes.py
index 75739111f2..d0be2acad9 100644
--- a/tests/operators/test_kubernetes.py
+++ b/tests/operators/test_kubernetes.py
@@ -81,10 +81,7 @@ def test_dbt_kubernetes_operator_get_env(p_context_to_airflow_vars: MagicMock, b
     If an end user passes in a
     """
     dbt_kube_operator = base_operator(
-        conn_id="my_airflow_connection",
-        task_id="my-task",
-        image="my_image",
-        project_dir="my/dir",
+        conn_id="my_airflow_connection", task_id="my-task", image="my_image", project_dir="my/dir", append_env=False
     )
     dbt_kube_operator.env = {
         "start_date": "20220101",
@@ -254,7 +251,7 @@ def cleanup(pod: str, remote_pod: str):
 
 
 def test_created_pod():
-    ls_kwargs = {"env_vars": {"FOO": "BAR"}, "namespace": "foo"}
+    ls_kwargs = {"env_vars": {"FOO": "BAR"}, "namespace": "foo", "append_env": False}
     ls_kwargs.update(base_kwargs)
     ls_operator = DbtLSKubernetesOperator(**ls_kwargs)
     ls_operator.hook = MagicMock()
diff --git a/tests/operators/test_local.py b/tests/operators/test_local.py
index 956c2a8d1e..17b98ee569 100644
--- a/tests/operators/test_local.py
+++ b/tests/operators/test_local.py
@@ -329,9 +329,7 @@ def test_dbt_base_operator_get_env(p_context_to_airflow_vars: MagicMock) -> None
     If an end user passes in a
     """
     dbt_base_operator = ConcreteDbtLocalBaseOperator(
-        profile_config=profile_config,
-        task_id="my-task",
-        project_dir="my/dir",
+        profile_config=profile_config, task_id="my-task", project_dir="my/dir", append_env=False
     )
     dbt_base_operator.env = {
         "start_date": "20220101",