Impact of urban areas on local and global environments; ecological footprint of major urban areas
Cities damage the environment at two scales. Locally they pollute air and water; globally they consume vast resources, measured by their ecological footprint — the total land and sea area needed to sustain them.
Real World
London's ecological footprint is estimated at 293 times its own land area, meaning the city depends on food, energy, and raw materials drawn from farmland, forests, and fisheries spread across the globe — far exceeding the resources available within the UK.
Exam Focus
Distinguish clearly between local impacts (UHI, smog) and global impacts (carbon emissions, resource consumption) using precise scale language in your answer.
Essay Framework
Use PEEL to structure every paragraph. Tap each step for guidance and an example.
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