In just eight months this year, humanity has used up all the resources that the Earth can renew in a year. The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere meanwhile continues to rise, while forests are being cleared on a massive scale, most notably to grow animal feed.
The downward trend becomes particularly apparent when comparing the year 2023 to 1990. Back then it was only at the beginning of December that humanity had exhausted natural resources. This year, the limit has already been reached at the beginning of August.
In conversation with RTL, Patrick Losch from the Superior Council for Sustainable Development (CSDD) issued a reminder that everyone should adapt their behaviour in light of Overshoot Day: “If we look at private consumption, it’s generally not driving that has the biggest impact on our environment, but meat consumption. We eat a lot of meat because we are doing well in Luxembourg. It’s important to remember that these animals don’t just eat grass from the meadows, they are mainly fed with agricultural products.”
And the majority of said products are imported from distant countries.
The trend around Overshoot Day has remained relatively stable over the last ten years, but not in a positive direction. One day has been gained from 2022 to this year, according to the NGO Global Footprint Network. Spokesperson Mathis Wackernagel explains: “We mark a number of dates in bold on our calendar. Christmas and other holidays. But, the one that probably has the most significance is Overshoot Day. It reflects a reality. It’s not an artificial day.”
While green and sustainable approaches are being preached, many nations still follow a familiar path. In Britain, for instance, more than 100 new licences to drill for oil and gas in the North Sea were handed out on Monday by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Regarding this, Losch noted: “These are populist measures. I think Sunak is an intelligent person, he also knows that not all the oil approved here can be withdrawn. Otherwise it will all go wrong.”
To live in balance with nature in the long term and reduce greenhouse gases, as recommended by the World Climate Council, the day on which the Earth’s resources are exceeded should be moved back by 19 days each year for the next seven years. According to Global Footprint Network, 13 days can be won if food wastage is reduced by half around the globe.
