Earth Overshoot Day is the date when humanity’s annual demand on nature exceeds what Earth can regenerate over the entire year. This year Earth Overshoot Day falls on August 2, 2017, the earliest date yet. he costs of this global ecological overspending include deforestation, drought, fresh-water scarcity, soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and the build-up of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
For Earth Overshoot Day this year, Global Footprint Network, along with 30+ partners, is highlighting solutions and individual pledges to #movethedate. If we moved Earth Overshoot Day back 4.5 days every year, we would return to living within the means of one Earth before 2050; we are currently using 1.7 Earths. Reducing the carbon component of the global Ecological Footprint by 50% would move Overshoot Day by 89 days.
The new Footprint Calculator goes beyond assessing users’ impact on the planet and carbon emissions. It allows users to play with options, learn about solutions, and connect to brief facts about sustainability. A person’s Ecological Footprint is the amount of productive surface area required to provide all he or she uses, including areas to produce food, fibres, and timber; to accommodate urban infrastructure, and to absorb carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuel.
The new Footprint Calculator allows users to measure their own demand on nature (Ecological Footprint) and assess their personal Earth Overshoot Day. A user’s personal Earth Overshoot day is the date Earth Overshoot Day would be if all people had their Footprint.
A personal Earth Overshoot Day earlier than August 2 means your demand on nature is higher than the world average. If it is earlier than April 24, it is higher than Germany’s average; if it is earlier than March 14, it is higher than the US average. (See here for all countries)
To calculate your own Overshoot Day and Ecological Footprint, go to: www.footprintcalculator.org
