Separation of environmental degradation

We normally think of environmental degradation as the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air, water and soil, as well as the destruction of ecosystems and the extinction of wildlife.

It may be defined as any change or disturbance to the environment perceived to be undesirable or harmful in its effects on the biota.

Often, the environment is affected by industrial products or processes. Historically, there have been strong market pressures on communities/countries without consideration of the environmental impact of business.

For an example, please watch the following video clip (if you are short on time, you can skip to 3.17 minutes):

This is a striking account of the potential environmental impact of business. While many developed nations now have stronger legislation in place to reduce the likelihood of this happening, there may still be similar examples around the world at present.