Population, consumption and environment: Demography contributions to the environmental issue

In recent decades, environmental concerns have evolved considerably before the multiplicity of aspects which are now incorporated in this theme. Likewise, the idea of ​​environmental impact matured, no longer just limited to physical consequences of human activity, incorporating the social, economic and cultural analysis at various scales. The concept of environment is multifaceted and, increasingly, has been seized from different perspectives. In the universe of interdisciplinary approaches, demographics has increased its participation in discussions on environmental issues by offering new tools and new questions for the theme. In a world seemingly free of population explosion, this study seeks to reflect on the major concerns of demography in relation to contemporary environmental impacts. If the rate of population growth has been slowed by the demographic transition, environmental problems in the world does no longer exist and have built a new range of issues. If nothing else the sheer volume of accumulated environmental problems that need to be solved, the world must prepare for the new challenges arising from increased levels of development and consumption in capitalist societies.