Relationship between socioeconomic and demographic characteristics with personal ecological footprint

Ekološki otisak je pokazatelj kojim se mjeri brzina ljudske konzumacije prirodnih resursa i proizvodnje otpada u usporedbi s brzinom kojom priroda apsorbira nastali otpad i stvara nove resurse. Na ovu temu postoji niz istraživanja različitih znanstvenih disciplina, a osobito onih koji se bave okolišnim promjenama. Istraživanja o osobnom ekološkom otisku pridonose identifikaciji i procjeni utjecaja ljudskih aktivnosti na okoliš. Cilj ovog rada je pridonijeti istraživanju povezanosti socioekonomskih obilježja kao što su obrazovanje, visina dohotka i životni aranžman te demografskih obilježja dobi i spola s osobnim ekološkim otiskom pojedinca. Za istraživanje je korištena relevantna i aktualna znanstvena i stručna literatura te je provedeno istraživanje putem anketnog upitnika. Rezultati ukazuju na postojanje povezanosti između socioekonomskih i demografskih obilježja s osobnim ekološkim otiskom. Potrebna su daljnja istraživanja za dublje razumijevanje kako ova obilježja utječu na osobni ekološki otisak i kako su međuovisna. Razumijevanje ove povezanosti od velike je važnosti za kreiranje i određivanje politika i strategija održivog razvoja te svijest o društveno odgovornom ponašanju pojedinca.The ecological footprint is an indicator used to measure the rate of human consumption of natural resources and the generation of waste in comparison to the rate at which nature absorbs the generated waste and creates new resources. There are numerous research which address this subject, particularly those related to environmental changes. Investigations into personal ecological footprints contribute to the identification and assessment of the impacts of human activities on the environment. The objective of this study is to contribute to the research concerning the connection between socioeconomic characteristics such as education, income level, and lifestyle arrangements, as well as demographic attributes such as age and gender with an individual's personal ecological footprint. Relevant and current scientific and professional literature was utilized for the research and a survey questionnaire was employed for data collection. The results indicate the existence of correlations between socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and the personal ecological footprint. Further research is necessary for a deeper understanding of how these attributes influence the personal ecological footprint and how they interrelate. Grasping this connection holds paramount importance for shaping and formulating sustainable development policies and strategies as well as fostering awareness of socially responsible individual behavior