The report ranks the 60 cities in England, Scotland and Wales by the average ecological footprint of their residents. The main factors affecting an individual's ecological footprint are:
- Housing
- Transport
- Food
- Consumer goods
- Public and private services
An ecological footprint comprises the land and sea area required to feed, provide resources, produce energy and to absorb waste and pollution.
If everyone consumed natural resources and generated carbon emissions at the rate we do in the UK we would need three planets to support us.
The UK ranking of South West cities were as follows (number of planets required shown in brackets):
- Plymouth 1= (2.78)
- Salisbury 3= (2.79)
- Gloucester 6= (2.84)
- Truro 9= (2.92)
- Exeter 14 (2.88)
- Bristol 17= (2.90)
- Bath 39= (3.00)
- Wells 39= (3.00)
Further information from WWF and a calculator to allow you to work out your own ecological footprint can be found on the WWF website (link below).
The LOCAL page of the Our South West website also provides links/advice on calculating and reducing ecological footprints.
The Fair Shares, Fair Choice website offers businesses, organisations and individuals help and support in creating their own beneficial carbon action plans.
