Thesis
The ecological implications of population aging: a cross-national analysis of the ecological footprint
Washington State University
Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
2008
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/103337
Abstract
Human ecologists have placed importance on demographic processes in explaining environmental degradation. However, population size has received much more attention than other demographic factors, such as age structure. Population aging is a historically unprecedented and global phenomenon. With such a drastic demographic change presently occurring, it is important for environmental sociology to assess what the environmental effects may be. Through a cross-national analysis of the ecological footprint, I examine the effect of population aging on the environment. The analysis reveals that older populations have larger ecological footprints than younger populations. This effect was found to vary between the major subcomponents of the ecological footprint; older populations consume more food, fiber, and timber but not energy.
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Details
- Title
- The ecological implications of population aging
- Creators
- Kyle Walker Knight
- Contributors
- Eugene A. Rosa (Degree Supervisor)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Sociology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Master of Arts (MA), Washington State University
- Publisher
- Washington State University; Pullman, Wash. :
- Identifiers
- 99900525047101842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Thesis