Our current lifestyles in Wales are depleting the Earth's natural resources quicker than it can replace them and driving rapid changes in the world including climate change, deforestation and the near extinction of many species. If everyone consumed natural resources and generated carbon emissions at the rate we do in Wales we would need three planets to support us.

Morgan Parry, Head of WWF Cymru, said: "The battle for the environment will be won or lost in our cities. They have the highest potential for eco-living due to local facilities, public transport links, dense housing and shared public resources. The solution lies, in part, to addressing the way we have carelessly consumed energy up to now."

Morgan Parry continued: "Today highlights the need for us all to reduce our consumption of resources in order to avoid damaging impacts on the environment. WWF Cymru calls on individuals to make responsible environmental choices and for the newly elected authorities across Wales and the Welsh Assembly Government to be inspired to improve the goods and services they provide to promote a one planet lifestyle in order to help their residents to live sustainably."

The data comes from a WWF report, Ecological Footprint of British City Residents, which calculated the average ecological footprint of cities' residents. An individual's ecological footprint relates to the land and sea area required to provide food, resources and energy, as well as absorb waste and pollution. The main factors affecting this are housing, food, consumer goods, public and private services and transport.

Out of 60 cities across the UK, Bangor residents rank joint 24th with the residents of Carlisle, Leicester and Worcester, St Davids residents rank joint 21st with residents of Nottingham and Liverpool, Cardiff residents rank joint 15th with the residents of Glasgow, Swansea residents rank joint 9th with the residents of Salford, Wolverhampton and Truro (Carrick), and Newport residents are in joint first place sharing the title of using less resources and having the least impact on the planet with the residents of Plymouth. Winchester residents use the most resources and have the greatest environmental impact on the planet.

WWF recommends steps individuals can take to reduce their footprint. These include: calculate your ecological footprint at wwf.org.uk/calculator and devise a plan to reduce it, holiday closer to home and try to reduce energy use in your home and save money on bills in the process.

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Editor's notes

TOP TEN TIPS TO REDUCE YOUR ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT
1. Reduce car journeys – whenever there is an alternative use public transport, cycle or walk
2. Grow your own vegetables, only buy the food you need and think about how you can use up left over food.
3. Instead of flying, take holidays in the UK or use the train to get to Europe.
4. If you need a car, get a small fuel efficient one.
5. Instead of spending money on brand new things, buy second hand, or borrow.
6. Try to make your home more energy efficient through insulation and double glazing.
7. Turn thermostat down.
8. Reduce the amount of meat you eat
9. Eat as much locally produced organic food as possible.
10. Recycle everything you can.

The WWF footprint calculator not only assesses your impact on the planet but advises on how people can make choices that benefit their health and the environment, and take affordable, simple measures to reduce their energy consumption – making huge savings on their energy bills. The calculator also works out how many planets we'd need to support your lifestyle.

WWF is now known simply by its initials and the panda logo.