Carrying capacity of the environment may be defined as the amount of natural resources which can be drawn from it and the maximum amount of pollutants that can be discharged without damaging it seriously.
For example, crude petroleum, the source of petrol and diesel used in motor vehicles is available in limited supply. It cannot be reproduced again. The present rate of use of these resources, will lead to the depletion of these resource within less than half a century.
Similarly, air pollution has created a problem of ozone depletion. Air pollution has developed a hole exposing human life to the dangerous ultraviolet rays of Sun. Hence, industrial development must be in accordance with the carrying capacity of environment.