Overshoot Day – today, humanity has spent the whole year’s ecological budget and the rest of the year we are living on borrowed resources.
Today, 13 August, it is Overshoot Day, which this year earlier than ever. In less than eight months, humanity made of the whole year’s ecological budget. The rest of the time we are living in borrowed capital. The main culprit is carbon dioxide emissions account for over half of the carbon footprint. This writes the WWF in a press release.
“Until the mid-70s man lived globally within planetary boundaries, but since then, the press has increased. In the present situation would require at least 1.5 planets to re-create the resources that goes into our current ecological footprint. Growing population, doubling the carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels since 1970 and increased material consumption are some of the causes, “explain the organization.
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According to the researchers in the network, the Global Footprint Network, which cooperates with WWF, has Overshoot Day – Overshoot day – moved from October to August in just fifteen years. Some signs that our ecosystem increasingly under pressure are deforestation, drought, water shortages, soil erosion, biodiversity loss and carbon storage in the atmosphere, increasing the likelihood of runaway climate change.
“We can still turn things around, but it is hurry. One of the important measures is to stop storing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by unsustainable consumption of fossil energy. We need to invest in a future that makes it possible for everyone to live a good life in the planet’s ecological limits “, says Carina Borgström-Hansson, expert on ecological footprint on the WWF.
Over the whole year stands alone greenhouse gases for 85 percent of our claim on the planet’s biocapacity. To absorb current levels of carbon emissions would need twice as much forest that is now available in the world, writes WWF in a press release. At the same man requires growing space to grow food, produce materials and maintain vital ecosystem services like pollination and water purification. We simply can not afford to pull up more fossil fuels.
“There are signs of trend reversal. It is about investments in renewable energy and towns and businesses that can lead in climate fight and investing in energy efficiency, renewable electricity , sustainable transport and climate friendly food. Politicians, corporate and financial players must make a much greater commitment to safeguard future prosperity, not least ahead of the climate summit in Paris about three months “, said Stefan Henningsson, climate expert at WWF.
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