When did the actual degradation of the environment actually begin?

The degradation of the environment can be traced back to early human activities, particularly with the advent of agriculture around 10,000 years ago, which led to deforestation and soil depletion. However, significant acceleration occurred during the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries, when fossil fuel consumption, urbanization, and industrial waste began to have profound impacts on air, water, and land quality. Since then, human activities have increasingly contributed to environmental issues, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.