The Third World refers to the poorer and undeveloped countries of the world.  Often, these countries have extremely poor environmental situations.

In many Third World nations, pollution is unrestricted.  Countless other environmental problems are also not addressed by the government. 

Usually, creating and enforcing environmental regulations would be economically disastrous for a poor country.  As a result, it is forced to choose between buying food and having a clean environment.  The more pressing concern is almost always the former.

Often, rich Western countries take advantage of the dilemma of Third World countries.  They dump garbage and hazardous waste in developing countries.  First World companies might also build plants, which emit considerable pollution, in Third World nations to avoid the regulations these companies would face at home.

Some transnational corporations that produce chemicals deemed overly dangerous in the First World find a market in the Third World.  There, governments cannot restrict usage of these chemicals because it would be too costly to citizens trying to make a living.

Countries in Latin America, Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia are the greatest victims of this environmental inequality.  In addition to problems created by development and industrialization, poorer nations also suffer environmental difficulties caused by poverty and war, among other causes.

Many environmental problems arise in the Third World.  Air pollution, water pollution , deforestation, desertification, soil erosion, and poisoning of the environment are among the largest of these.

Third World nations are aware of these problems and are working to solve them.  The United Nations and other international organizations have looked into preventing foreign companies from dumping waste in developing nations, making transnational corporations pay for the pollution they produce, and enlisting the First World in helping to clean up the Third World's environment.