Environmental Impact
1.41 With an average resident of the South West living with a 'three planet' ecological footprint, the region's population increase will, other things being equal, increase the impact on climate change. However, as the net growth derives from migration within the UK it is arguable that higher environmental standards in the South West than in the place of origin could reduce
migrants' impact, making population growth an opportunity for the region. If migrants from the South East of England, whose ecological
footprint is typically 20% higher than the South West, adopt the way of life of a typical South West resident, then (other
things being equal) their environmental impact will be reduced. The generally dispersed and rural nature of the region's population tends to encourage longer journeys to services, and means that transport is a higher proportion of the South West's footprint than the national average.
For more information on environmental impacts please see the Environment and Natural Resources chapter and Eco-Footprinting
section.