7 Months Into 2017, We Have Already Spent More Natural Resources Than The Earth Can Renew In A Year

The Logical Indian Crew

August 4th, 2017 / 12:30 PM

7 Months Into 2017, We Have Already Spent More Natural Resources Than The Earth Can Renew In A Year

As of August 2, 2017, the world has used up its allowance for water, soil, clean air and other resources on Earth for the whole of 2017.

This makes August 2 the Earth Overshoot Day (EOD) for 2017, as calculated by environmental groups WWF and the Global Footprint Network.

Earth Overshoot Day marks that calendar date when humanity’s consumption of natural resources trumps Earth’s ability to renew those resources that year. After August 2, humanity will survive on “credit” until December 31.

In a grim distinction, EOD fell extremely early this year – earlier than ever before. EOD has been calculated every year since 1986.

Description of Earth Overshoot Day, the date at which humanity’s use of natural resources exceeds what the planet can regenerate in that given year. This year it falls on August 2.phys

https://twitter.com/WWF_Australia/status/892520566208462848

If Earth was a bank account, we would have a 70% overdraft each year. #EarthOvershoot #MoveTheDate https://t.co/EXp2clHKM8 pic.twitter.com/JjCGDDEbEX

— WWF EU (@WWFEU) August 2, 2017

What is Earth Overshoot Day?

An economic and ecological term, EOD is the calendar date on which humanity’s resource consumption for that year exceeds Earth’s capacity to regenerate/renew those resources that year.

Earth Overshoot Day is calculated by dividing the world biocapacity (the amount of natural resources generated by Earth that year) by the world ecological footprint (humanity’s consumption of Earth’s natural resources for that year) and multiplying this product by 365, the number of days in one calendar year.

EOD was calculated by environmental groups WWF and the Global Footprint Network

“By August 2, 2017, we will have used more from Nature than our planet can renew in the whole year,” the groups said in a statement. “This means that in seven months, we emitted more carbon than the oceans and forests can absorb in a year, we caught more fish, felled more trees, harvested more, and consumed more water than the Earth was able to produce in the same period.”

Earth Overshoot Day=Planetary Debt Bondage.We accrued 10 years of planetary ecological debt.twitter

Today, Earth #Overshoot Day, we've used as much from nature as our planet can renew this yr https://t.co/6QNDx8JhCG pic.twitter.com/580T4eVDsk

— Footprint Network (@EndOvershoot) August 8, 2016

“Our planet is finite, but human possibilities are not. Living within the means of one planet is technologically possible, financially beneficial, and our only chance for a prosperous future,” said Mathis Wackernagel, CEO of Global Footprint Network and co-creator of the Ecological Footprint. “We hope our new Footprint Calculator enables millions more people around the world to explore sustainability solutions and gain an uplifting sense of the possibilities available to society.”

The Logical Indian take

The Logical Indian community is extremely concerned by the narrowing gap between January 1 and Earth Overshoot Day. As it narrows, humanity increasingly lives on “credit” for the rest of the year, with more depletion of natural resources and carbon dioxide build-up in the atmosphere.

The costs of this global ecological overspending include deforestation, drought, fresh-water scarcity, soil erosion, biodiversity loss and the buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

At current consumption rates, the equivalent of 1.7 planets would be required to produce enough to meet humanity’s needs.

We don’t have 1.7 planets: we only have one.

It’s time to – as the Global Footprint Network put it in its campaign – #movethedate. If we moved Earth Overshoot Day back 4.5 days every year, we would return to living within the means of one Earth before 2050.

To #movethedate, there needs to be dedicated commitment from individuals and governments. Governments are already doing their part with implementing the Paris Agreement and adapting renewable energy.

But for a meaningful extension of EOD, even personal EODs should be extended. A personal Earth Overshoot Day earlier than August 2 means your demand on nature is higher than the world average.

You can calculate your personal EOD and learn about how you can make your lifestyle more eco-friendly here.

Today is Earth #Overshoot Day! Help #movethedate by calculating your own personal Overshoot Day: https://t.co/MbNs403Cdw pic.twitter.com/ys5W2FFpXb

— Footprint Network (@EndOvershoot) August 2, 2017

Contributors

Written by :

Edited by :

10,000 Applications From 500+ Cities, This Youth Leadership Program Is Coveted By The Passionate Youth Of India

India is a country where every third person is a youth. It makes our country one of the world’s youngest countries. In a dynamic nation such as ours, empowerment of youth is directly linked to the Nation’s overall growth. The dynamic youngsters of today have opportunities through which they can create social impact and hone their leadership skills. Yes Foundation Media for Social Change Fellowship is a key initiative, particularly for college students, that is impactfully helping young individuals to transform into socially conscious citizens.

This fellowship received an overwhelming response with a staggering 10,000+ applications from across 500+ cities and towns across India for the 2019 edition. Evidently, it is not only quite popular but also one of the most coveted fellowship programs to be pursued by young individuals. The program offers college students a meaningful way of spending their summer vacation, which includes leadership and communication training followed by a paid placement with NGOs for two months. During the placement, fellows work on communication assignments at NGOs that include creative writing, social & digital media, and film & photography.

The program was launched three years ago in Mumbai with 44 youth participants. Since then the program has been rapidly expanding with each year. YES Foundation Media For Social Change Fellowship has transformed the lives of over 800 college-going youth, in the process amplifying the communication of almost 300 NGOs. This year the program will have 600 youth participants across 5 cities – Mumbai, Delhi, Bangaluru, Ahmedabad and Pune. On successful completion of the program, fellows receive a stipend and a certificate.

The 3rd city launch of #MediaForSocialChange #Fellowship '19 was in #Ahmedabad with the induction training on May 6-10. #NGO placements started this week. #Leadership #Communication #SocialDevelopment #YEStoFellowship pic.twitter.com/qABfV8Y9cS

— YES FOUNDATION (@YESFoundationIN) May 15, 2019

Here are some glimpses from the #MediaForSocialChange #Fellowship induction training in #Bengaluru held on May 13-17. The cohort has started their placement this week with city-based #NGOs.#Leadership #Media #Communication #SocialDevelopment #YEStoFellowship pic.twitter.com/VLuOS7lk8l

— YES FOUNDATION (@YESFoundationIN) May 21, 2019

The training of the fellows has been completed for this year. Currently, the two-month NGO placement is in progress. As part of the training program, selected fellows have workshops and interactive sessions with distinguished experts and leaders from the development and communication sectors including Anshu Gupta, Founder – Goonj, Madhusudan Agrawal, Founder of MAM Movies, Srikant Kekare, ad-filmmaker, Daksh Juneja, Digital Marketing Specialist and COO of Avignyata, Krishnendu Sarkar, assistant professor at FTII Pune among others. The leadership training in the program also includes new-age topics like design thinking, emotional intelligence and empathy to foster a differentiated leadership quality among the youth.

YES FOUNDATION has partnered with highly credible NGOs like HelpAge India, CASP, SWaCH, Centre for Environment Education, Agastya International Foundation, Give Foundation, Salaam Bombay Foundation, Srujna, Catalysts for Social Action, Prerna, Atma among others.

The program allows fellows to get an opportunity to learn about social development and communication hands on. This program effectively taps into the young generation’s natural ability to communicate in the internet age and infuse development exposure and leadership to create social leaders for India.

The youth indeed have much to contribute to the country’s development The unlocking of this valuable social and intellectual reservoir towards India’s development depends on the creative space and options provided to them. It helps them emerge as self-assured individuals broadening their horizons so that they achieve great feats on the personal front in the process positively participating in public life.

7 Months Into 2017, We Have Already Spent More Natural Resources Than The Earth Can Renew In A Year

The Logical Indian Crew

What is Earth Overshoot Day?

The Logical Indian take

Related Stories

Leaving Its Natural Arctic Habitat, Visibly Ill Polar Bear Wanders Into Russian City

Reducing ESZ Of Bannerghatta National Forest Can Destroy Bengaluru’s Natural Lungs

After A Severe Drought In 2003, This Organisation Is Rejuvenating Water Resources In Coimbatore Ever Since

Let’s Support The Villagers Who Made A Pond And Planted Trees In 400 Acres With Limited Resources

Human Population Consumed A Year’s Worth Of Earth’s Natural Resources In 7 Months, Sets Record

Violence Cost India More Than 80 Lakh Crores In PPP Terms In 2017, Claims Report

Partner Story

10,000 Applications From 500+ Cities, This Youth Leadership Program Is Coveted By The Passionate Youth Of India

YES Foundation

Latest on The Logical Indian

Victory For India In Kulbhushan Jadhav Case, Know All About It

Ebola Claims Over 1,600 Lives, WHO Declares Outbreak ‘An International Health Emergency’

Bombay High Court Convicts One In British Teenager Scarlett Keeling Murder Case

AP: Amid Drinking Water Crisis, 38-Yr-Old Woman Killed During Clash At A Public Tap

Safety Management System Of 5 Airlines Found Deficient By Aviation Regulator: Govt

Bihar Govt Establishes Transgender Welfare Board, To Give Rs 1.5 Lakh For Sex Change Operation

Stories that deserve attention, delivered to your inbox!

Handpicked, newsworthy stories which deserve the attention of a rational generation.

Keep up with the world