A REVIEW ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ENERGY CONSUMPTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION

The aim of this concept paper is to present some of the existing knowledge on the impact of population growth, economic growth, energy intensity growth and urbanization growth on environmental degradation. The paper will emphasise the important concept regarding the sustainable development and identify simultaneously the effect of population growth, urbanization, energy consumption and environmental degradation on the sustainable economic growth as well. To ensure the sustainable development of the economy environmental degradation should not increase with time but be reduced or at least remain constant. If it increases, we will move further away for sustainability, while if it decreases, we will move closer towards it. This paper is meant to support and stimulate the objective of achieving sustainable development which allow higher standard of living through changing of the nation’s pattern lifestyle towards the energy efficiency consumption and production.