Earth Overshoot Day marks the day on which humanity has used up all the resources that the earth can provide within a year. This alarming exploitation of our planet has serious consequences for the environment and is calculated annually by the Global Footprint Network, a non-profit organization. In this blog post, we will explain the significance of Earth Overshoot Day, shed light on Earth Overshoot Day for Germany and highlight the global impact of our high-consumption lifestyle. We also give five tips on how we can reduce our consumption of resources in order to protect nature and preserve our planet.
What is Earth Overshoot Day and how is it calculated?
Earth Overshoot Day, also known as World Depletion Day or Earth Overshoot Day, is calculated annually by the Global Footprint Network. The aim of this calculation is to measure, illustrate and reduce the exploitation of natural resources and our environment. Earth Overshoot Day clearly shows that our current lifestyle consumes 75 percent more resources than the earth can replicate. The calculation is based on the ecological footprint, which measures the amount of resources and biomass that each person needs to satisfy their consumption. Humanity currently needs 1.75 Earths per year for this, which is worrying.
You can also calculate your own footprint: Your ecological footprint
When is Earth Overshoot Day 2023?
The development of Earth Overshoot Day has undergone a strikingly negative change. In 1970, it still fell on December 29, but Earth Overshoot Day now falls at the end of July. In the current year, 2023, Earth Overshoot Day has already been reached on August 2. For Germany, however, the German Earth Overshoot Day has already been reached on May 4, 2023. This means that if everyone on Earth consumed as many resources as the Germans, Earth Overshoot Day would be on this day.
Problems worldwide:
Food waste, drought, fast fashion landfills, hunger for energy and deforestation. The effects of our consumption-intensive lifestyle can be seen in various areas.
One example is the enormous waste of food that ends up in the bin, especially in industrialized nations. In terms of figures, 931 million tons of food are wasted worldwide every year, in contrast to the more than 828 million people who go hungry every day.
Water scarcity is also a growing problem, caused by droughts and incorrect use of groundwater. This problem affects many regions worldwide, in Europe this is evident in Spain and currently also in Greece.
The fast fashion industry, which is very resource-intensive and promotes poor working conditions, is a major contributor to environmental pollution.
The global hunger for energy is leading to rising CO2 emissions. Deforestation must also be mentioned at this point, which is also a global problem that releases CO2 emissions and destroys animal and plant habitats.
But how can we reduce our resource requirements?
To date Earth Overshoot Day later in the year and protect nature, the first step is to reduce our consumption of resources. Here are five tips on how we can achieve this:
- Use water sparingly: Water is a scarce resource, so we should be conscious of how we use water and use it sparingly. For example, don't let the water run when brushing your teeth or lathering your hair.
- Avoiding plastic: By avoiding plastic packaging or plastic bags and buying plastic-free products, we can reduce our ecological footprint.
- Buying regional and seasonal food: By buying local products, we save CO2 emissions for transportation and support local businesses.
- Use of second-hand and recycling: By using used products such as clothing or recycling objects, reducing their accumulation, we can reduce the production of new goods and thus save resources.
- Reducing CO2 emissions from energy and mobility: We should focus more on renewable energies and use sustainable means of transportation such as bicycles or public transport to reduce our CO2 footprint.
Conclusion: Earth Overshoot Day reminds us that our current lifestyle is exceeding the Earth's limits and endangering nature. The effects can be seen in water scarcity, famine, climate change, habitat loss and environmental degradation. To protect our planet and leave a livable Earth for future generations, we urgently need to reduce our consumption of resources and promote sustainable lifestyles. This is the only way we can postpone Earth Overshoot Day into the future and stop the exploitation of our planet.
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