Global Footprint Network Report: In 2017 the ecological calendar was shortened
The Earth Overcapacity Day is calculated from 1986, which is what humanity spends on natural resources and that it can replace for a year, in water, soil and clean air. This "ecological budget" is made every year and this 2017 came to an end one day before the 2016, so that humanity lives "on credit" from the past 2 from August until the end of the year.
The Global Footprint Network, GFN, a global partner organization of the World Wildlife Fund, WWF, which analyzes the evolution of the planet's ecological footprint, points out that in 2017 we will use more of nature than our planet can renew throughout the year.
This means that in seven months we emit more carbon than the oceans and forests can absorb in a year, we caught more fish, cut down more trees, harvested more, and consumed more water than the Earth could produce in the same period.
Both GFN and WWF emphasize that according to current consumption rates, the equivalent of 1,7 planets is needed to produce and satisfy human needs. This rate varies by country. Spain consumes the equivalent of 2,4 planets, surpassed by Australia (5,2); United States (5,0); Korea and Russia (3,4); Germany (3,2); Switzerland (3,1); United Kingdom and France (3,0); Japan (2,9); and Italy (2,6).
Three planets for 2050
This end date has been shortened to year after year since 1986, when it began to be measured. In 1993 it happened on October 21, in 2003 on September 22 and in 2015 on August 13. However, GFN stresses that, as a positive aspect, the progress of the Earth Overcapacity Day has slowed down and they assure that: “If we cut carbon emissions in half, the Earth Overcapacity Day date would go back 89 days or roughly three months. This is possible, and it would reduce humanity's demand on the ecological resources of 1,2 Earths instead of 1,7, as now”. GFN believes that people can contribute by eating less meat, burning less fuel and reducing food waste.
For its part, the WWF emphasizes that energy-related carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions did not increase in 2016 for the third consecutive year, despite the growth of the world economy, which can be explained in part by the significant development of the renewable energy in electricity.
In 1961, when WWF was founded, humanity was consuming only two-thirds of the natural resources available on the planet. In that same year, most of the countries still had a positive ecological balance, that is, their ecological footprint was much smaller and more sustainable.
Current levels of consumption have skyrocketed and humanity is currently outside sustainable limits. If this trend continues, at least three Lands will be necessary for people to be able to stock up on 2050, according to WWF.
Source: Martín Carrillo O. - Blueberries Consulting
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