Earth Overshoot Day - the time when humanity abused resources exceeded Earth's recovery threshold

July 29 marked an extremely disturbing day for our Earth - Earth Day exceeds the threshold (Earth Overshoot Day - EOD).

Since this day, people have officially used up the resources that the planet can recover throughout 2019. In other words all human actions from this moment are depriving some of the resources. sustainability of the following generations.

What is the day when the Earth exceeds the threshold?

Earth Overshoot Day is coming sooner.

Before the 70s of the 20th century, the consumption of human resources remained within the Earth's range. However, people are increasingly exploiting insatiable, and finally December 1973 is the first year we use resources beyond the threshold of recovery in the year.

2019, this day falls on July 29. It is 2 days earlier than 2018 (1/8/2018) while 2017 is August 3. In other words, Earth Overshoot Day is coming sooner , and this year is the earliest time in history.

According to the global sustainability organization Global Footprint Network (GFN), Earth Day exceeded the threshold for a total of two months earlier during the past 20 years. This means that people currently use natural resources 1.75 times faster than the recovery rate of the ecosystem.

In other words, we have a planet, but we use a resource equivalent of 1.75 times the ability to download it.

What is the day when the Earth exceeds the threshold?

Earth Overshoot Day is a GFN campaign designed to wake people up to the Earth's finite natural resources.

This day is calculated by comparing the amount of ecological resources that the Earth can regenerate in a year with human consumption demand that year.

Mathis Wackernagel, co-inventor of the term Ecological Footprint and the founder of GFN, said: "We have only ONE Earth - this is the final determination of the species' existence. We can't abuse 1.75 Earth and think it won't cause any harm. "

If all the people on Earth live like Americans, we will need 5 Earths.

In just the first seven months of the year, people have exhausted the amount of water, soil, clean air and other resources that the planet can regenerate in 2019. From now until December, all resources We all use unsustainable resources (hard to replicate) in the future.

Besides, almost every human waste goes beyond the natural cycle, and is likely to cause environmental damage. The process of waste recycling takes place too slowly, while the natural consumption process (such as the exploitation and consumption of vegetables, meat, fish .) takes place too quickly.

According to GFN, the breakout occurs because we have used up all available natural capital. And the price we pay is more and more evident through deforestation, soil erosion, the loss of biodiversity, or the accumulation of more CO2 in the atmosphere.

#MoveTheDate - a future-oriented campaign to move beyond the threshold

#MoveTheDay is a sub-campaign of Earth Day that exceeds the threshold, set out to push the date beyond five days each year. This "allows mankind to reach 1: 1 compatibility with the planet before 2050".

This campaign is launched with the goal of pushing back the threshold of five days each year.

GFN said we can implement this campaign in five areas: urban, energy, food, population and planet.

For example, cutting 50% of CO ₂ emissions from fossil fuel consumption will help move this time up to 93 days.

• In urban areas , urban design and re-management can be considered from sprawling and sprawling sprawling urban areas to compact urban centers.
• In the food sector , it is necessary to prioritize the production of plant foods over animal foods because the food industry is currently using more than 50% of the planet's biological regeneration capacity.
• In the field of planets , protecting nature through biological conservation, reforestation and regeneration will be key activities for sustainable development. GFN also recommends that empowerment of women "will help to create smaller, healthier and better-educated families".

How to improve sustainability

There are many things that each of us can do to help the Earth move towards sustainable development like:

• Recycling
• Cut energy use at home
• Reduce waste
• Plant fruits, vegetables and home herbs
• Use energy-efficient appliances
• Recycling waste into organic fertilizer
• Set up a group to use shared vehicles and use public transport
• Say no to plastic
• Buy items from charity shops
• Cut meat consumption

With these small actions, you were able to help somewhat with the #MoveTheDate campaign, opening up the opportunity to recover a clean, green Earth and sustainable development for future generations.