Ecological Footprint and Its Enhancing Factors in SAARC Countries

Abstract

High economic development is caused to increase ecological footprint (EF). Increasing EF creates an impediment for sustainable development. Previous studies applied several methods and indicators to examine EF in different countries. However, very few studies could examine the originating factors of EF using empirical models. Hence, this chapter measures EF for SAARC countries during 2000 – 2022. It explains the comparative performance of SAARC countries in EF using a time trend analysis. Thereupon, it also examines the impact of certain indicators on EF in SAARC countries using robust empirical analysis. There seems to be significant diversity in EF due to disparity in economic development and its enhancing factors in SAARC countries. EF increases as industrialization, greenhouse gas, inflation, GDP per person employed and age dependency ratio increase. Digitalization, renewable energy consumption, technological change and life expectancy rate showed a negative impact on EF.