Carbon Footprint Assessment for Sustainable Spatial Management in Urban Settlements: Study of Polish Cities

Abstract

Urbanization significantly contributes to environmental changes, increasing carbon emissions, and resource consumption. This study quantifies the carbon footprints (CFs) and biocapacities (BCs) of urban settlements in Poland by focusing on household consumption levels in 18 regional cities. The research assesses CF in categories like waste generation, energy use, mobility, and food consumption, converting it into global hectares [gha] in order to measure the environmental impact. BC is evaluated by land use types in order to understand urban sustainability. The results showed considerable disparities, with Warsaw having the highest level CF and Zielona Góra the lowest. Mobility, electricity, and food contributed more than 80% of the total CF in our study. All of the cities exhibited ecological deficits, with CF levels exceeding those of BC, this indicated unsustainable resource use. Warsaw, for example, required more than 28 times its BC to support its consumption patterns. The study emphasizes the need for targeted interventions in transportation, energy efficiency, and public awareness in order to reduce urban environmental impacts. Local governments must prioritize sustainability efforts – especially in high-impact sectors. The research highlights the importance of urban planning strategies that align with sustainability goals in order to achieve a long-term ecological balance and resilience against climate change, thus offering insights that could guide policy development beyond Poland.