Can classic population-environment theories describe environmental impacts of population decline? Finding evidence from strategic environmental policy analysis of four German regions

Abstract

Population decline has become an increasingly common phenomenon in Europe and will become more widespread in the coming decades. Because population pressure is often regarded as a threat to the environment, this population decline is often welcomed from environmental viewpoints. However, specific theoretical frameworks about how population decline affects the environment are lacking. This thesis explores what existing core population-environment theories would imply for how population decline is viewed. By conducting an analysis of strategic environmental policy documents in four (German) case study regions, it was tested to which extent these theories have explanatory power for declining regions. This analysis was helped by applying a 'syndrome approach' to study effects of demographic change.