In the 2001 report “Footprints and Milestones: Population and Environmental Change”,
the United Nations Population Fund states that changes in demographic variables such
as size, growth rates or distribution of population have an important impact on the
environment. However, there are feedback mechanisms between population and environmental
change and the relationship between environmental quality and population is
complex. The amount and type of emissions are not only determined by demographic
variables, but also depend on production technologies and consumption patterns. Hence,
even a growing population does not necessarily lead to an increasing deterioration of
environmental quality. If e.g. highly polluting consumption is substituted by goods of
less polluting character, or technical progress and investments in human capital occur,
overall environmental quality may improve even with an increasing population. Furthermore,
one has to take into account that the development of the natural environment, the
economy and even the number of children is mainly driven by decisions of people, which
respond to changes of economic and environmental conditions. Taking this into account,
the analysis of the relationship between demographic change, economic development and
environmental deterioration should include the following characteristics: