Galina Churkina
In this chapter, the exploration of urbanization interactions with global environmental change commences. The chapter begins by defining what a city is. It then explains the physical and biogeochemical feedbacks within the Earth's system, highlighting how changes in these interactions contribute to and shape global environmental change. In this context, the Gaia hypothesis is introduced that views Earth as a self-regulating system in which living organisms, the atmosphere, oceans, and land interact to maintain conditions suitable for life. Considering urbanization within this framework emphasizes how urban processes can influence and be influenced by planetary regulatory mechanisms.