Luxembourg has secured an unwelcome distinction on the global stage: the Grand Duchy is the second fastest consumer of natural resources in the world, according to calculations for Earth Overshoot Day.
Only Qatar fares worse, having exhausted its share of planetary resources for the year on 4 February. Luxembourg reached its Overshoot Day on 17 February 2026, meaning it has already used up the natural resources that Earth can regenerate over the full 12-month period. The date is unchanged from 2025.
Overshoot Day is internationally regarded as a measure of unsustainable consumption, serving as a call to reconsider habits. The date is calculated by comparing resource consumption against the resources available for the year.
Speaking to RTL, Gauthier Hansel of Greenpeace explained that the calculation takes into account factors such as fuel tourism, mobility and car usage, food, housing, and cargo transport.
For the remainder of the year, Luxembourg will effectively live on “credit”, consuming more resources than nature can regenerate within its borders. If the global population lived as people in Luxembourg do, humanity would require approximately seven planets to sustain itself.
The figure has drawn criticism from environmental groups. Votum Klima, a platform comprising 15 non-governmental organisations, is calling on the government to confront what it describes as unsustainable consumption patterns.
Hansel noted a contradiction between government rhetoric and the country’s environmental footprint. In a speech at Harvard University, Prime Minister Luc Frieden celebrated the merits of the European economy, which he said promotes growth while fully respecting the planet’s limits. Given that Overshoot Day falls on 17 February, one can only smile wryly at that statement, Hansel observed.
