How do I set Linux environment variables so that pm2 can see them for node.js apps?

When I run my nodejs application on my Ubuntu Linux server using node server.js it works correctly, and outputs the value of the environment variable $db using process.env.db.

However, the app breaks when running sudo pm2 start server.js, seeing the environment variable as undefined.

I've tried adding the variable in the following files:

• etc/environment: db="hello"
• ~/.ssh/environment : db="hello"
• ~/.bashrc : export db="hello"

I've also rebooted and run source ~/.bashrc to ensure the variable is available.

I think I've tried everything mentioned here, I don't know what else to do:

• https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/117467/how-to-permanently-set-environmental-variables
• https://github.com/Unitech/pm2/issues/867
• Why does an SSH remote command get fewer environment variables then when run manually?
• https://serverfault.com/questions/389601/etc-environment-export-path