Immigration and environment: A framework for establishing a possible relationship

This paper considers conceptual, analytic and policy issues concerning US p opulation, immigration and environment. The policy question guiding the ana lysis is whether the environmental impact of immigration is proportional to its numbers, i.e., additions to the population, or does immigration have a disproportionate effect on the environment, i.e., above or below what woul d be expected on additional numbers alone? If the effect is proportional, t hen policy issues concerning the environmental impact of immigration become centered on population policy and programs, and the relative benefit of ma nipulating immigration as a component of population growth to achieve natio nal environmental (or other) goals. If, however, immigration has a dispropo rtionate effect, thus an effect on the environment beyond the contribution to population growth, then US immigration policy and its administration hav e unique environmental implications which may be appropriately addressed th rough immigration policy reform. The IPAT model is presented as a general f ramework for establishing the proportionality of the environmental effects of US immigration. Given the demands of theory and limitations of data, the framework is decidedly 'ideal' and is offered as a long range proposal for policy relevant research on US population, immigration and environment. In order to move to act on the proposed research agenda, however, several imp ortant analytic components of national population and environmental researc h must be strengthened. First, more accurate and comprehensive measurement of the components of US population growth is critical. Second, analysis of population, immigration and environmental processes must occur over time an d across regions and local communities in the US. Third, a process of inter preting research results which is both inter- and multi-disciplinary, and i s inclusive of national, regional and local concerns must be organized to w isely interpret findings within the context of national goals and tradition s.