noun
environmental disaster
Refers to large-scale damage to the natural environment, often caused by human activity such as oil spills, chemical leaks, or deforestation.
その工場の事故は深刻な環境災害を引き起こした。
The factory accident caused a serious environmental disaster.
環境災害の防止には国際的な協力が不可欠だ。
International cooperation is essential for preventing environmental disasters.
自然災害 refers to natural disasters (earthquakes, floods, etc.), while 環境災害 specifically denotes disasters harming the environment, often man-made.
公害 is pollution or environmental damage caused by industrial activity, often with a focus on harm to human health, whereas 環境災害 is a broader term for environmental catastrophes.
Compound of 環境 (environment) and 災害 (disaster).