Earth Overshoot Day: how can we move the date?
Earth Overshoot Day 2022 lands on July 28 and marks the date in which humanity’s demand for natural resources surpasses the Earth’s ability to renew those resources in a year. If July 28 seems too early to you, just know that Italy Overshoot Day landed more than two months ago, on May 15. May 4, instead, was Germany Overshoot Day and March 13, USA Overshoot Day.
Today humanity uses the equivalent of 1.75 Earths; if this trend continues, it is estimated that around 2050 consumption will be double what the Earth can produce.
Over the decades, the ecological and carbon footprint of humans has gradually increased, leading to Earth Overshoot Day coming earlier and earlier each year, gradually moving from December 25 in 1970 to July 28 this year.
Earth Overshoot Day: causes and consequences
The main reason is related to the fact that in recent decades the world population has grown drastically, doubling in size since the mid-1970s. While consumption has increased, the size of the Earth and the resources it offers have remained unchanged, making it necessary to draw on the next year’s resources. Year after year, human debt to the Earth has grown heavier and heavier, to the point that it is becoming unsustainable in the long term.
The environmental impact of these choices is devastating: desertification, soil erosion, deforestation, drought, loss of biodiversity, increase in CO2 emissions and global warming. However, the consequences of overexploitation of the Earth are tangible not only from an environmental and ecological point of view but also economically and socially speaking. The depletion and lack of resources, in fact, can create favourable scenarios for new wars and conflicts. Already in 2009, the report ‘From Conflict To Peacebuilding – The Role of Natural Resources and the Environment’ by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) stated that, over the last sixty years, at least 40% of all intrastate conflicts were directly or indirectly related to natural resources.
#Movethedate: is it possible?
According to the Global Footprint Network, the international organisation that monitors and promotes the sustainable use of the Earth’s resources, moving the date is still possible. If we could postpone Earth Overshoot Day by five days each year, by 2050 we would be using less than one Earth per year. Governments and individuals, though, must change habits and mindsets as this ambitious goal requires more responsible management of resources.
Green transition, energy efficiency and zero waste habits
Approximately three-quarters of the greenhouse gas emissions come from the consumption of fossil fuels: therefore, global carbon dioxide emissions need to be reduced as soon as possible. To stop global warming, we must phase out fossil fuel reserves consumption (coal, oil, and gas) and invest in renewable energy. Besides, we should focus on the energy efficiency of our buildings, appliances, and systems. Halving global CO2 emissions would move Overshoot Day by 89 days, bringing us closer to our sustainability goal.
The green transition, however, also requires a change in daily habits, mindset, and vision. Using public transport, reducing waste of water, food and electricity, and sorting waste are just some of the basic behaviours that need to be introduced and taken seriously. For example, halving car pollution in cities would move the Overshoot Day by 10 days; or if we cut food waste in half and the entire world ate lower protein-intensive food, we could move the Overshoot date by 42 days.
In the future, air conditioning will play a crucial role in the survival and well-being of the world’s population, that’s why the companies of the sector must channel their efforts into goals of energy efficiency and reduction of the environmental impact of AC/R systems. As a company operating in the maintenance of air conditioning and refrigeration systems, Errecom renews every day its commitment not only to developing the most innovative chemicals for the efficiency of systems and the reduction of CO2 emissions but also to raising the awareness of technicians about this matter. To learn more about our commitment to sustainability, we recommend reading this article.
