Yesterday was the so-called "Earth Overshoot Day" (EOD). This was the date on which, since the beginning of the year, humanity has consumed as many resources as our planet is capable of regenerating in the course of the entire year. From today on, we live on credit.
The earth's population acts as if there were 1.7 planets to fall back on. Humanity is thus living far beyond its means. Planetary boundaries are binding in the long term. For a while we can finance the overexploitation of the planet. Just as a gambling addict can indulge his vice by gradually pawning all his valuables.
But for how long can this go on? Between 1994 and 2014, the availability of natural resources per capita worldwide decreased by a staggering 40%. It certainly hasn't gotten any better since then.
For us in Germany, by the way, the imbalance is even more dramatic. Our national Earth Overshoot Day was in early May. If the entire population of the earth were to live the German lifestyle, almost three planets would be needed!
Unfortunately, overconsumption of natural resources has actually increased in recent decades. We were still roughly in equilibrium in the early 1970s. The global EOD was just before Christmas.
Since then, it has been getting worse rather than better. The Earth Overshoot Day in 2024 is the earliest in the history of humanity. Since the year 2018, the EOD has remained in early August. Year after year, we are taking a loan from the future (which also means from our descendants!) in an amount that no reputable bank would ever approve for a household. We are still miles away from any kind of sustainability, and we are not getting any closer to it either.
What to do?
If we do not want to rely on the interplanetary colonization fantasies of an Elon Musk, the only thing left is a more prudent use of the resources available to us on our home planet.
To counteract the worrying trend of overexploitation of our planet, there are numerous opportunities.
A few examples of how we could make up for the "missing" 152 days:
- By cutting food waste in half, the EOD can be pushed back 13 days toward the end of the year.
- Global introduction of a CO2-price of $100: 63 days.
- Application of existing technologies to increase energy efficiency: 21 days.
- Halving meat consumption: 7 days.
- Halving global car traffic: 13 days.
If you want to calculate your personal EOD, you can do so (website link see below). I could not resist. To be honest, the result was sobering and shocked me a bit. I don't dare to divulge my personal overshoot date. Only this much shall be revealed: I am highly motivated to get at least to the level of the average German (EOD at the beginning of May) next year.
What do you think is your personal Earth Overshoot Day? I wonder whether your guess is equally far off the mark as mine was. I am looking forward to your reports!
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