A significant and often negative effect on the natural world resulting from human activities. In the context of industrial capitalism, it refers to the widespread pollution, deforestation, and resource depletion that occurred due to increased industrial production.
Related terms
Pollution: The release of harmful substances into the environment, such as air pollution from factories or water pollution from chemical waste.
Deforestation: The clearing or destruction of forests on a large scale, often for the purpose of creating space for agriculture or urban development.
Resource Depletion: The excessive use or extraction of natural resources beyond their sustainable limits, leading to their scarcity or extinction.