system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: I always hear that China (and sometimes even more broadly, Asia) is the worst offender when it comes to destroying the environment/animals. Is there any truth to this?
gpt
China's record on environmental protection has been poor, but its practices are in line with other developing nations like India, Indonesia, Iran etc.

It comes down to the scale of industrialization in a country like China compared to other nations.  Providing over 1.5 billion people with jobs, food and basic needs strains the environment on a grand scale.  If everyone in China ate and lived like an American, then the costs will be even greater.