Environmental Sustainability in Cross-National Context: Examining Core Influences Across Measures

• In Event: 325 - Section on Sociology of Development Paper Session. Environment and Development

Abstract

This paper investigates the driving forces of four measures of sustainability to examine similarities in sources using a cross-national dataset of more than 100 countries. Expectations from environmental impact, world-systems and world polity perspectives are incorporated in a model examining institutional-level attributes driving national-level imprints on the biophysical environment. Results suggest that the structural factors driving ecological footprints are largely similar. A core set of factors can indeed be identified related to economic factors, natural conditions, and political factors. However, some differences exist that suggest there are not universal factors driving national environmental impacts. Results are discussed with regard to their implications for policy creation and implementation.

Author

• Sandra T. Marquart-Pyatt, Michigan State University