August 1st was Earth Overshoot Day

We're now living beyond our means.
Past #EarthOvershootDay, humankind has already used all of the planet’s ecological resources and services that nature can regenerate in the entire year.

Humans are currently using 1.7 Earths. This means that as a species, we are currently using up nature’s resources around 1.7 times faster than the planet’s ecosystems can regenerate them, through our consumption rates and a growing population1.

In some countries like the US, it’s as many as five Earths2. Through our modern rates of overharvesting of forests, use of transport and emitting carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, we are pushing ecosystems past regeneration point.

Keep rainforest standing

Some countries passed their individual overshoot day months ago. Check the diagram below and see where you live measures up.

Earth Overshoot Day


Since the day started being observed by Global Footprint Network, this is the earliest point in the year on which it has ever fallen. In 1970, humans didn’t use up more resources than Earth could renew until late December. By 1997, the overshoot date had moved back to late September.

By August 1, 2018, we consumed a whole year’s worth of the planet’s bounty. Starting August 2, we began to drain the earth’s savings account. We can only deplete our natural resources for so long before the reserves are gone.

Earth Overshoot Day

Climate change is an unavoidable, inconvenient reality. 97% of climate scientists endorse the position that humans are causing global warming. The other 3% probably work for oil companies. Earth’s average surface temperature has risen 1.1℃ since the late 18th Century3. Millions of people, pounds and producers are working tirelessly to adapt to climate change, as the consensus is that it is going to continue if we don’t intervene.

We must work hard to make the world a better place, preserve wildlife habitat, support rainforest communities and stop corals bleaching.

None of us can live with the alternative.

Here’s how you can reduce your ecological footprint. If this inspires you to make a change, here’s some ways to help in the global movement to reduce your ecological footprint and #MoveTheDate.

August 1st was Earth Overshoot Day


  • Hilary Watt says:

    Let us nurse Mother Earth. Greeed is too easy a trap to fall into. Let us inspire each other to prioritise love for each other and most of all love for Mother Earth and all the life force resident on this amazing planet.

  • Deirdre Buckle says:

    Our Planet is swamped with an already over-populated world. There are too many people being born to single family units a limit should be set as to the number of children number of babies allowed. There are not enough resources to sustain everyone.

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