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.
Earth Overshoot Day falls on 1 August this year – marking the point at which consumption exceeds the capacity of nature to regenerate Earth’s resources consumed Unsustainable consumption
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.
Since then, the day at which humanity has busted its annual planetary budget has moved forward.
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 planet’s budget is busted in July.
“Our current economies are running a Ponzi scheme with our planet,” he said.
It notes, for example, that replacing 50% of meat consumption with a vegetarian diet would push back the overshoot date by five days.