Ecological Footprint, Lifestyle and Consumption Pattern in Nigeria

Abstract

Urbanization, economic growth and change in demand by citizens and lifestyle have been the major factors that affect production and consumption of resources; this has consequential effect on the environment. This is the basis for this study; Consumption is a component of Ecological Footprint. Thus this involves utilization of resources, uses of goods and services and generation of waste after the consumption. Therefore consumption is one aspect of human lifestyle that affects the Ecological Footprint of a nation. Nigeria’s households spent more in 2010 that 2001. Between 2000 and 2001, the real household consumption increased by$2.1 billion (32%). Over the same period per capita household expenditure increased nearly 28%. There is about 61% increase in population within the same period and the GDP increased of about 7% annually does not correlates. The three main types of household consumption are food, housing and transportation. Comparison of the EF of Nigeria and the global EF indicated that it requires 0.81 planets to live the way Nigerians are living globally. Thus the EF of Nigeria is about half of the world EF.