Author: Jonathan Watts / Source: the Guardian
Humanity is devouring our planet’s resources in increasingly destructive volumes, according to a new study that reveals we have consumed a year’s worth of carbon, food, water, fibre, land and timber in a record 212 days.
As a result, the Earth Overshoot Day – which marks the point at which consumption exceeds the capacity of nature to regenerate – has moved forward two days to 1 August, the earliest date ever recorded.
To maintain our current appetite for resources, we would need the equivalent of 1.7 Earths, according to Global Footprint Network, an international research organisation that makes an annual assessment of how far humankind is falling into ecological debt.
Earth’s resources consumed
Unsustainable consumption
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
D
N
2018
Earth
Overshoot
Day
1 August 2018
2010
2000
1990
15 October 1988
1980
29 December 1970
1970
Earth’s resources consumed
Unsustainable consumption
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Dec
Nov
2018
Earth Overshoot Day
1 August 2018
2010
2000
1990
15 October 1988
1980
29 December 1970
1970
Guardian graphic. Source: Overshootday.org
The overshoot began in the 1970s, when rising populations and increasing average demands pushed consumption beyond a sustainable level. Since then, the day at which humanity has busted its annual planetary budget has moved forward.
Thirty years ago, the overshoot was on 15 October. Twenty years ago, 30 September. Ten years ago, 15 August. There was a brief slowdown, but the pace has picked back up in the past two years. On current trends, next year could mark the first time, the…
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