Investigating the Effect of Demographic Variables on Environment Quality Based on STIRPAT Model

Population size and composition are the most important factors affecting the quality of the environment. Empirical studies of the impact of demographic factors on pollution emissions have very different results. Identifying the impact of these variables on the quality of environment, can play a significant role in formulation and adoption of policies and environmental regulations.
Using econometric analysis, STRIPAT model and carbon dioxide emissions data among the D8 group from 1995 to 2010, the impact of demographic variables such as population size, age of population, urbanization and concentration of population and also the impact of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on carbon dioxide emissions have been examined in this study.
The results indicate that the population size and concentration of population, have no significant effect on greenhouse gas emissions. On the other hand, the population aged between 15 to 64 years, urbanization, and per capita real income, respectively indicating the greatest impact on carbon dioxide emissions among D8member states.
High rate of emissions related to the population raging from 15 to 64 years old in our society is important, because age distribution of the population in this age range has become more concenterated. Since this age range has a high proportion of production, economic growth and energy consumption, it has a high impact on CO2 emissions. Therefore, the environmental damage by users should be reduced to the lowest level through some measurments such as cultural environmental training and energy efficiency increase.