Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand
for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can
regenerate in that year. We maintain this deficit by liquidating stocks of
ecological resources and accumulating waste, primarily carbon dioxide in the
atmosphere. Earth Overshoot Day is hosted and calculated by Global
Footprint Network, an international think tank that coordinates research,
develops methodological standards and provides decision-makers with a menu of
tools to help the human economy operate within Earth’s ecological limits.
To determine the date of Earth Overshoot Day for each year,
Global Footprint Network calculates the number of days of that year that
Earth’s biocapacity suffices to provide for humanity’s Ecological Footprint.
The remainder of the year corresponds to global overshoot. Earth Overshoot Day
is computed by dividing the planet’s biocapacity (the amount of ecological
resources Earth is able to generate that year), by humanity’s Ecological Footprint
(humanity’s demand for that year), and multiplying by 365, the number of days
in a year.
Earth Overshoot Day has moved from late
September in 2000 to August 1 in 2018.
Calculate your
personal Overshoot day:
What can you do to
#MoveTheDate?
Travel sensibly
When we bring an
eco-attitude to the places we visit, and take action to limit the impacts
of your trip, our vacation can provide important benefits to local
communities while supporting conservation. These actions also go a long way
toward ensuring your travel experience is full of relaxation, delicious
authentic cuisine, and a genuine connection to the local way of life.
·
Seek
out high quality small-scale hotels that integrate well with local communities
and are equipped with renewable energy sources. Although large hotel chains are
often very efficient, these small-scale hotels will reduce your accommodation
Footprint by as much as 48%.
·
Consider
alternative transportation instead of renting a typical car. An electric
vehicle will help you reduce your Footprint by 40-50%, and a bike ride means no
Footprint at all!
·
Buy
local and organic food products typical of the destination you are visiting.
Each time you make this choice during a meal, you will see a tasty Footprint
reduction of 5%.
Go capsule
Do you have a few “go-to”
articles of clothing that have withstood the test of time? Maybe it is a
favourite pair of jeans or a warm winter jacket. These items could be part of
the foundation for your capsule wardrobe―a collection of timeless clothing
items that can be mixed and matched to compose outfits for any occasion.
Clothing makes up 3% of the global Ecological Footprint and one of the goals of
a capsule wardrobe is to be intentional about clothing purchases.
Commute social
Cars are responsible for 19.7% of the global carbon
Footprint.
How do you commute to work? Do your specific circumstances
afford you ditching your car? If so, mingle with the carpooling folks, or even the
cyclists or public transit riders who meet on the road every day. Bring social
back in your daily commute!
Pick a plant-based
diet
Global livestock is responsible for 9%
of all anthropogenic carbon emissions (a conservative estimate.) To
put it bluntly, reducing meat consumption is a great way to reduce our
Ecological Footprint.
Look at your diet. How often can you choose a vegetarian alternative to that steak, burger or roast?
Expanding your vegetarian repertoire in the kitchen
will help, so we invite you to explore these videos of delicious
and easy recipes. Pick one that inspires you, go grocery shopping, and
start chopping.
Get creative
We know it can be daunting to think about reducing your
personal Ecological Footprint. We also know that there are additional ways to
tread more lightly on our planet than the steps we’ve described. That’s why
we’re inviting you to be creative and design your own step to #MoveTheDate
of Earth Overshoot Day.
We are counting all the steps taken to #MoveTheDate. More steps
mean more impact.
Let’s take a few
steps today. The clock is ticking.
P.S. : We have personally powered ourselves from overshootday.org and footprintnetwork.org. You can join in the movement with us by showing snapshots of how you are contributing to #MoveTheDate of our Earth Overshoot Day. We are waiting.
P.S. : We have personally powered ourselves from overshootday.org and footprintnetwork.org. You can join in the movement with us by showing snapshots of how you are contributing to #MoveTheDate of our Earth Overshoot Day. We are waiting.
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