What is Earth Overshoot Day?

What does Earth Overshoot Day mean?

Definition and explanation of Earth Overshoot Day

Every year, Earth Overshoot Day marks the day when human demand for the Earth’s natural resources exceeds the Earth’s supply. This means that from this day onwards for the rest of the year, we live at the expense of the health of our Earth. We then need more than the Earth can provide - to the detriment of the environment.

This day is calculated by comparing the ecological footprint of the entire human race - i.e. the total consumption of land, water, air and other resources - with the Earth’s available resources.

Calculation method and indicators for Earth Overshoot Day

The calculation of Earth Overshoot Day is based on a careful analysis of human resource consumption and ecological footprint. This method allows us to determine the point at which our demand for natural resources overwhelms the Earth. Several indicators are used to get a comprehensive picture of the ecological burden.

Calculating Earth Overshoot Day using the Ecological Footprint

The Ecological Footprint is a central parameter in the calculation of Earth Overshoot Day. It measures the amount of land an individual, community or nation needs to sustain its lifestyle and dispose of the waste it produces. This footprint is measured in global hectares (gha) and includes several categories:

• Carbon footprint: The amount of biologically productive land needed to absorb the CO₂ emissions caused by energy consumption.
• Cropland footprint: The area needed to grow food and raw materials.
• Grazing land footprint: The area required for livestock and animal production.
• Forest land footprint: The area needed to provide wood and products made from wood.
• Built-up land footprint: The area needed for settlements and infrastructure.
• Fishing grounds footprint: How much nature we use and change when we fish or farm fish.

Calculating Earth Overshoot Day using the Earth’s biocapacity

Earth’s biocapacity is the planet’s ability to produce renewable resources and absorb waste. It is also measured in global hectares and includes resources such as cropland, grazing land, fishing grounds and forests. Biocapacity is measured regionally and globally to determine how much sustainable resource production and waste absorption is possible.

Calculating Earth Overshoot Day using the footprint and biocapacity

The Earth Overshoot Day is calculated by dividing the earth’s biocapacity (in global hectares) by humanity’s ecological footprint (in global hectares) and multiplying it with the number of days in a year, which is 365. The equation is as follows:

The larger the ecological footprint compared to the biocapacity, the earlier Earth Overshoot Day occurs in the year.

This method of calculation and the indicators used make it possible to accurately determine Earth Overshoot Day each year and to critically monitor global resource use. In the next section, we will take a closer look at the evolution of Earth Overshoot Day over time and the factors that influence the shifting date.

The evolution and change of Earth Overshoot Day

Earth Overshoot Day takes place earlier every year

Since calculations began in the 1970s, Earth Overshoot Day has steadily moved forward. This means that we always use more resources than the Earth can renew in a year. In recent decades, Earth Overshoot Day has occurred several months earlier. This illustrates the rapid increase in human resource consumption and the growing ecological burden.

Factors influencing the shift

Several factors influence the shift of the Earth Overshoot Day date:

• Population growth: Rising global population increases demand for resources such as food, water and energy.
• Consumer behaviour: Changes in consumption patterns, especially in developed countries, lead to higher resource consumption.
• Technological advances: Advances in technology and industry can enable more efficient resource use, but often lead to higher overall consumption.
• Land use: The conversion of forests to cropland or settlements affects the biocapacity area of the Earth.
• Climate change: The effects of climate change, such as droughts and crop failures, can affect the availability of resources.

Earth Overshoot Day year by year

In 1971, Earth Overshoot Day fell in December, but Earth’s resources are being used up earlier and earlier. In the 1990s, the day fell in September and we are currently moving towards July. Today we need 1.7 Earths to provide for all people. Unfortunately, we don’t have this.

Why is Earth Overshoot Day important?

Earth Overshoot Day is much more than a statistical indicator. It has immense significance for our understanding of sustainable development and the impact of our actions on the environment.

The importance of using resources sustainably

Earth Overshoot Day acts as a warning signal and shows us how quickly we are depleting our planet’s natural resources. It is crucial that we use our resources in a sustainable way to maintain the balance between our demand and the Earth’s ability to regenerate. Ensuring sustainable resource use is essential to leaving an intact environment and livable conditions for future generations.

Consequences of ecological overload

The ecological overload symbolised by Earth Overshoot Day has serious consequences for our environment and society:

• Climate change: Overconsumption of fossil fuels and the release of greenhouse gases is exacerbating climate change, leading to more extreme weather, sea level rise and other catastrophic events.
• Biodiversity loss: The overexploitation of natural resources affects habitats and leads to the destruction of ecosystems, which in turn accelerates the loss of animal and plant species.
• Water scarcity: Our water supply is threatened as we consume water faster than natural water cycles can replace it.
• Livelihoods at risk: Overuse of land, air and water threatens the livelihoods of people around the world, especially in poorer communities that are more dependent on natural resources.
• Economic risks: The growing ecological crisis can lead to economic instability, affecting trade, infrastructure and jobs.

Earth Overshoot Day as a call to action

Earth Overshoot Day is an urgent reminder that we need to reduce our resource consumption and implement more sustainable lifestyles. By making us realise that we only have a limited amount of resources available, Earth Overshoot Day encourages us to take collective responsibility and take action to reduce our ecological footprint.

Earth Overshoot Day worldwide

Earth Overshoot Day is a globally relevant concept, but it has different meanings and impacts in different countries and regions.

Differences between countries and regions

Earth Overshoot Days vary from country to country and region to region due to different populations, lifestyles and resource use. Industrialised countries tend to have earlier Earth Overshoot Days, because their resource consumption is often higher than in developing or emerging countries. Countries with high demand for energy, meat consumption and other resource-intensive activities tend to have earlier Earth Overshoot Days.

Countries with the earliest Earth Overshoot Days

Some countries stand out as having remarkably early Earth Overshoot Days, indicating particularly high resource use. These include:

• Qatar: Qatar often has the earliest Earth Overshoot Day in the world. Its high energy consumption and dependence on imported resources contribute to this date.
• Luxembourg: Another country with an early Earth Overshoot Day. The high per capita resource consumption, combined with a small population, leads to an early overshoot.
• United Arab Emirates: Similar to Qatar, the UAE is heavily dependent on imported resources, leading to an early Earth Overshoot Day.

These countries exemplify the urgent need for more sustainable consumption and lifestyles to reduce the overuse of global resources.

Solutions and conclusion

The awareness raised by Earth Overshoot Day serves not only to highlight the challenges, but also to suggest ways in which we can reduce our dependence on limited resources.

Measures to reduce the ecological footprint

• Renewable energies: Switching to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and hydropower significantly reduces the carbon footprint.
• Sustainable agriculture: Promoting organic agriculture and sustainable farming methods reduces the grazing land footprint and conserves soil.
• Energy efficiency: More efficient technologies and energy savings in households, businesses and industry reduce energy consumption.
• Changing dietary habits: Reducing meat consumption in favour of plant-based foods reduces the cropland and grazing land footprint.

Importance of sustainable consumption and resource conservation

• Conscious consumption: Individuals can contribute to reducing resource consumption through conscious purchasing decisions, reuse and recycling.
• Circular economy: Shifting to a circular economy where products are reused and recycled leads to a reduction in waste and resource consumption.
• Education and awareness raising: Broad education on sustainable consumption and environmental protection raises society’s awareness of the urgency of the issue.

Summary and outlook

Earth Overshoot Day is a powerful tool that shows us how our lifestyles and consumption patterns exceed what our planet can offer. It is an urgent reminder that our actions have an impact and that we have a responsibility to make sustainable choices. By reducing our ecological footprint, we can help reduce ecological overshoot and preserve a livable environment for future generations.

It is up to all of us to work together and take action to move Earth Overshoot Day forward into the future and shape a sustainable path for our planet. Every small step counts and helps to restore the balance between humans and nature.

Let’s work together to protect the future of our Earth and create a sustainable world for generations to come.

How can you delay Earth Overshoot Day?

You can join us at ForTomorrow to drive the energy transition in Europe and help delay Earth Overshoot Day. Together with us, you can buy emission rights away from industry, e.g. coal-fired power plants. This is an effective way to reduce the CO₂ emissions of the European Union and in doing so we protect the climate in Europe.