Is environmental crisis a recent phenomenon? If so, why?
Yes, the environmental crisis is a recent phenomenon. In the early days of civilisation, before the phenomenal increase in population and industrialisation, the demand for environmental resources and services was much less than their supply. Pollution was within the absorptive capacity of the environment, and the rate of resource extraction was less than the rate of regeneration of these resources. Hence, environmental problems did not arise.
However, with population explosion and the advent of industrial revolution, the demand for resources for both production and consumption went beyond the rate of regeneration. The pressure on the absorptive capacity of the environment increased tremendously. This resulted in a reversal of supply-demand relationship — increased demand for environmental resources but limited supply due to overuse, leading to the current environmental crisis.
Explanation
The textbook context clearly explains that environmental crisis is indeed a recent phenomenon. Earlier, when civilisation began, the demand for environmental resources was less than supply, and pollution was within the absorptive capacity. The rate of resource extraction was less than regeneration rate. However, with population explosion and industrial revolution, demand exceeded regeneration capacity, and the absorptive capacity came under tremendous pressure. This supply-demand reversal explains why environmental crisis is a recent phenomenon.