Addressing the long-term and short-term implications of geographical developments contributes to higher scoring in several ways:

1. Comprehensive understanding of the topic:
By addressing both the long-term and short-term implications of geographical developments, candidates demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the topic. This shows that they are able to analyze and evaluate the impact of these developments from different temporal perspectives, considering both immediate effects and potential long-lasting consequences.

2. Critical thinking and analysis:
Addressing the long-term and short-term implications requires candidates to think critically and analyze the topic in depth. They need to consider various factors such as economic, social, and environmental aspects, and evaluate how these developments may shape the future landscape. This showcases their ability to think beyond immediate situations and make informed predictions based on their understanding of geographical processes.

3. Evaluation of cause and effect:
When discussing the long-term and short-term implications, candidates need to evaluate the cause and effect relationships between geographical developments and their consequences. This involves identifying the factors that lead to these developments, understanding their impacts on different scales, and predicting how they may influence future trends. By demonstrating this evaluative approach, candidates showcase their ability to analyze complex systems and make connections between different aspects of geography.

4. Demonstrating interdisciplinary knowledge:
Addressing the long-term and short-term implications of geographical developments requires candidates to draw upon interdisciplinary knowledge from various fields such as economics, sociology, and environmental studies. They need to consider how these developments interact with other factors and disciplines, and how they may shape and be shaped by broader societal trends. By showcasing this interdisciplinary understanding, candidates highlight their ability to integrate knowledge from different domains and apply it to real-world scenarios.

5. Showing awareness of global issues:
Geographical developments often have global implications, such as climate change, urbanization, or resource management. By addressing the long-term and short-term implications, candidates demonstrate their awareness of these global issues and their understanding of how geographical factors contribute to their development. This shows that they have a holistic perspective on the subject and are able to connect local developments to global challenges.

In conclusion, addressing the long-term and short-term implications of geographical developments contributes to higher scoring by showcasing a comprehensive understanding of the topic, critical thinking and analysis skills, evaluation of cause and effect relationships, interdisciplinary knowledge, and awareness of global issues. By demonstrating these abilities, candidates prove their proficiency in geography and their ability to apply geographical knowledge to real-world scenarios.