A Conceptual Paper on Population Growth, Economic Growth and Environmental Quality Nexus in Nigeria A Conceptual Paper on Population Growth, Economic Growth and Environmental Quality Nexus in Nigeria

Abstract This study evaluates existing evidence and proposes a conceptual framework for investigating the multifaceted dynamics of population growth and economic growth on environmental quality in Nigeria, as a developing country. Evidence on the growing ecological degradation (i.e., high population density, pollution, urban squalor, deforestation, and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions) is reviewed. The study presents theories that link human population growth, economic growth, and environmental quality, as well as the impact on human well-being and possible relationships with environmental changes. As a result, population growth, economic growth, and environmental quality are all discussed in depth as both a cause and a result of environmental changes. The empirical literature on Nigerian population growth and ecological change, as well as potential links to climatic change, is reviewed. Although there are well-known limitations to current knowledge on the relationship between population growth, economic growth, and environmental quality, the implications for future research and the application of guiding principles are numerous. Keywords: population growth; environmental quality; economic growth; energy consumption; CO2 emissions