What is Earth Overshoot Day and what can I do about Earth overload? If you're looking for answers to these questions, you've come to the right place! Whether climate change, water scarcity, Garbage swirls in the sea or the deforestation of the rainforests - we live in a time in which we have to deal with countless Environmental issues which we humans, however, have to deal with through our handling of the earth and its natural resources have created themselves.
The fact that Earth Overload Day moves closer to the beginning of the year each year shows that, despite the danger to all our lives and the lives of future generations, we still haven't learned to truly live sustainably and with respect for the environment.
In this article I would like to explain to you exactly what is behind the so-called Earth Overshoot Day. Let's go!
Here you can find a short overview in advance:
Definition: What is Earth Overshoot Day?
The Earth's biocapacity is 1.7 global hectares per person per year - but on average, each person uses 3.3 global hectares per year.₁ Earth Overshoot Day is a day when the Earth is overloaded. the particular day of the year when we humans are more natural resources than the earth can reproduce in the entire year.
Because the Earth's natural reserves are not consumed equally by all countries, Earth Overshoot Day is also calculated on a national basis. The German Earth Overload Day therefore indicates when we have used up all the natural resources that our country is entitled to for the entire year in purely mathematical terms.
Date: When does Earth Overshoot Day take place?
The date of the earth congestion day is recalculated every year, because it depends on how many resources a country like Germany or the global community consumes in the current calendar year.
- In 2023, it falls on May 4 for Germany. Since that day we have been living at the expense of nature and other people.
- The global Earth Overshoot Day for 2023 has not yet been determined.
Below I have also compiled the older dates for your orientation.
German earth congestion days in recent years:
- 2017: April 24
- 2018: May 2
- 2019: May 3
- 2021: May 5
- 2022: May 4
- 2023: May 4
If everyone in the world lived in such a resource-wasting way as we Germans do, we would need about three earths.
Global Earth congestion days in recent decades:
- 1961: May 5, 1962 (only 0.73 Earths needed)
- 1970: December 29 (1.01 Earth)
- 1975: November 30 (1.09 Earth)
- 1980: November 4 (1.18 Earth)
- 1990: October 11 (1.29 Earth)
- 2000: September 23 (1.38 Earth)
- 2010: August 7 (1.67 Earth)
- 2015: August 5 (1.68 Earth)
- 2020: August 22 (1.56 Earth, COVID-19)
- 2021: July 29 (1.74 Earth)
- 2022: July 28 (1.75 Earth)
Motives: Why does Earth Overshoot Day exist?
Earth Overshoot Day serves to remind us again and again of the damage our own way of life can cause. This creates the Motivation to move from being the problem to being its solution.
The German Earth Overload Day in 2023 was therefore already on May 4. The remaining time until the New Year we Germans then lived on credit - the lender is nature.
The more wealth is created in this world, the more resources are consumed. Often, even people suffer first from environmental problems such as the climate change, the Deforestation of the rainforests or the Water shortagewho are least to blame.
That is why it is also precisely the Industrialized nations such as Germany, which have a responsibility to. And both politics, economy, as well as consumers:inside.
So we have to make sure that a Increasing prosperity not at the expense of the environment and other people goes. Earth Overload Day should make everyone aware that the resources the planet gives us are limited and therefore extremely valuable.
Solutions: What can I do to postpone Earth Overshoot Day?
Optimist:in are not deterred by the date and the "required earths", but directly see the enormous potential for improvementthat we can exploit in our society.
Each of us can make sure every day that Earth Overload Day is again pushed further toward the end of the year. Quite simply, through conscious consumption and a fundamentally as possible sustainable life.
The personal, ecological footprint shows each individual where he or she currently stands. Be aware that we in Germany live in absolute luxury and at the expense of other people and the environment. Such a wasteful lifestyle is not sustainable, as it ultimately affects all living things on earth, including ourselves, the light goes out at some point.
5 tips: How to live more resource friendly?
Here are a few things and related articles that you can use to actively Environmental protection in everyday life operate and live a more resource efficient life can:
- Avoid waste: Consciously avoid plastic waste, use the Tips for Zero Waste Beginners, conserve natural resources and save the environment and wildlife from non-biodegradable human waste.
- Think minimalist: Adapt the minimalist lifestyleLimit yourself to the things you really need in life and enjoy the overview you have gained.
- Vegan living: Live veganreplace animal products such as meat, eggs or milk with plant-based alternatives, protect animals and protect the environment.
- Conscious fashion consumption: Find out about the Slow FashionI value existing clothing and buy clothes second-hand from time to time.
- Appreciating food: Reduce your personal food wasteBy buying only the food you really need (according to a plan) - and by learning to make food last longer.
There really are countless ways to make your life even more eco-friendly. Feel free to read the article "Reduce Ecological Footprint" inspire even further.
Do you have any other tips to postpone Earth Overshoot Day? Then feel free to share them with me and our community in the comments.
The earth overload day as a clear warning signal!
We are living at the expense of our planet and using reserves that nature has put aside for us over millions of years. This has long been known, but Earth Overshoot Day reminds us of it year after year. Nevertheless, we in the industrialized countries continue to live in luxury.
"We deal with this world as if we had a second one in the trunk."
Jane Fonda (more at Environmental protection quotes)
How will we explain to our children and grandchildren in 50 years' time why a large proportion of animal and plant species have disappeared, and why fertile soil, water and the air we breathe are poisoned and in short supply? In any case, the answer will not fill us with pride.
Do you have any questions, suggestions or further tips about Earth Overload Day? Then I'm already looking forward to your comment!
Stay sustainable,
PS: Our diet plays a very important role in the fight against the waste of resources. Take a look now at the article about sustainable cookingto learn more.
References:
₁ WWF Germany: Earth Overshoot Day, available at https://www.wwf.de/earth-overshoot-day. [09.05.2023].
₂ Germanwatch e.V.: Earth Overload Day (as of July 22, 2019), available at https://www.germanwatch.org/de/overshoot. [09.05.2023].
₃ Germanwatch e.V.: Earth Overload Day never sooner than this year: ambitious climate and resource protection cannot wait any longer (as of July 22, 2019). https://www. germanwatch.org/en/16747. [May 09, 2023].
₄ Statista GmbH, H. Nier: The world is not enough (as of 07/29/2019), available at https://t1p.de/fllc. [09.05.2023].
