People and the Planet- topic 5:

5.1 What are the environmental issues facing cities?5.1a) Urban regions can generate huge eco- footprints

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Our modern lives use lots of resources.All resources ultimately come from the natural environment. This lessons looks at variations rates of consumption amongst different communities.

Coming up

• What is an eco-footprint?• What contributes to an eco-footprint?• How and why to eco-footprints vary?• Case study: Winchester v Salisbury• Case study: Variations across London• Case study: Global variations

By the end you will be able to

• Define what an eco-footprint is• Describe and explain variations in eco-

footprints at different scales

Urban regions and their eco- footprintsWhat is the Ecological footprint of a Country?

The Ecological Footprint of a country is defined as the land and natural resources required to provide the raw materials on which

the country along with its population feeds, and process the waste products it produces.

• We use the natural environment as a SOURCE- to obtain things for our needs

• We also use as a SINK- to dispose of all our waste products

• These SOURCES and SINKS represents the amount of land, water and air (BIPRODUCTIVE AREAS) needed to support our lifestyles

• This is expressed in the measurement GLOBAL HECTARES (GHA)

Task: Define “Source” and “Sink”

What is in our footprint?What sources do we use in order to be able to live in London?

What sinks do we use in order to be able to live in London?

Use page 205 in the textbook to help.

What is in our footprint?Our footprints now extend far beyond places we live in as we no longer produce, consume and dispose of everything we need in our local area.

These components make up an eco-footprint-1) Food we eat2) Transport we use3) Housing we live in4) Entertainment and leisure services5) All consumer goods- clothes, electricals and all energy it

takes to produce and transport it6) Infrastructure- water and power supplies, health and

education services, transport network improvements7) Public services- resources used by councils to support our

lifestyles- refuse collection, highway and park maintenance, street furniture, etc

Eco-footprint component

How it contributes to a footprint

How this impacts your individual eco-footprint

Food you eat e.g. Food is imported from overseas.Chemical fertilisers help food grow

I eat citrus fruit from Spain

Transport you use

Housing

Entertainment and leisure servicesConsumer goods

Infrastructure

Public services

Why do eco-footprints vary?

Salisbury Winchester

Salisbury and Winchester are two small cities in the south of England. Salisbury has a population of 45000, whilst Winchester has a population of 40000.

Salisbury and Winchester are just 80km apart but have very different eco-footprints

Which city has the smallest footprint?

Can you suggest reasons for the difference?.

Why do eco-footprints vary?

City Planets Footprint (global hectares)

Salisbury 2.79 5.01

Winchester 3.62 6.52

Unemployment is low

House prices are lower.

People commute long distances to work.

Cycling is popular.

Unemployment is low

Income is higher

Why do eco-footprints vary?

Salisbury Winchester

Place the statements into the correct column.

Put each statement in the correct column. For each statement explain how it impacts on the eco-footprint of the city.

Why do eco-footprints vary?

Salisbury WinchesterHouse prices are lower. This affects the eco-footprint because

Income is higher. This affects the eco-footprint because

Cycling is popular. This affects the eco-footprint because

People commute longer distances to work. This affects the eco-footprint because

Unemployment is low This affects the eco-footprint because

Unemployment is low This affects the eco-footprint because

Check your answers.

Winchester has more commuters that travel longer and further to work therefore use cars increasing their CARBON FOOTPRINT (an aspect of the eco footprint). more and in Salisbury people cycle/ walk to work more.

People have higher income in Winchester so can afford to spend more on more things.

House values are higher in Winchester so can afford to spend more on more things.

Both cities have high employment rates, meaning they have income to spend on material possessions

Why do eco-footprints vary?

London’s eco-footprintLondon is 44th on the WWF list out of 60 towns and citiesLondon’s total footprint extends over an area twice the size of Britain and is equal to the size of Spain. Not all of London has a large print-

How do footprints vary across

London?

London’s eco-footprint

% of low paid residents. Eco footprint

Can you explain the variations in London’s eco – footprint?

Eco- footprints around the World

Think: how will eco – footprints vary between countries?

Justify your answer.

Eco- footprints around the World

Lower Income Countries (LEDC)- tend to have smaller eco-footprints due to lifestyle differences and lower levels of consumption in general

Higher Income Countries (MEDC)- tend to have higher eco- footprints as they have materialistic wealth, and therefore consume more.

Task-• Look at the graph and table on page 207 of textbook• Is there a relationship between a country’s HDI rank and

their eco-footprint? • Which countries are anomalies (don’t fit the normal

pattern?) why?

Why do you think the UK has a high eco footprint whilst Kenya has the low eco footprint?

Use the cards on your table to identify the reasons for this. Summarise the answers in your exercise book

Why do you think the UK has a high eco footprint whilst Kenya has the low eco footprint? Check your answers

DEVELOPED eg UK 5.3 ha per personDEVELOPING eg Kenya 1.5ha per person

People in the UK consume more as they are more affluent eg:

People consume less as they have lower incomes (less affluent)

Buy consumer goods eg CD’s; fridges etc. Which consume resources; consume energy in production; transport and use.

Consume fewer goods as they have lower incomes (GDP is less)

Buy imported foods eg coffee; exotic fruits etc which increase food miles.

Many grow their own food

Own and run more cars which consume oil and contribute to air pollution as well as CO2 contributing to global warming

Few people own and run cars. Walk and use bicycles.

Spend money on foreign holidays which generates more CO2 emissions from aeroplanes

Only the small wealthy minority can afford foreign holidays

People in the UK generate more waste from consumer goods and consumption of for eg electricity

Electricity is expensive and consumption levels are low especially in rural areas.

Overview• There are many individual components that

make up our eco-footprints, such as where our food is from, how much we own and who makes it, which services we have in our local area, how we dispose of our rubbish and how much rubbish we create.

• The world tends to see a pattern, with more highly developed countries having higher eco-footprints, although within all countries eco-footprints vary from place to place.

Practice Question• Using examples, explain how and

why different cities have different eco- footprints (4 marks)

To finish

What is the likely eco-footprint of people who:

• Take foreign holidays• Play “I spy” each evening• Own an allotment• Commute for 1 hour per day.

Explain your reasons