When Is Your Overshoot Day?

August 22 was Earth Overshoot Day (EOD). This is the point in the year when humanity starts using up more of the planet’s natural resources than it can replenish. Last year, EOD was July 29 and the difference is due to the pandemic reducing our ecological footprint by 9.3%. The first EOD (in 1970) was Dec 29 when the global population was 3.6 billion. Today, it is 7.7 billion and still growing even though we’re already putting unsustainable stresses on the planet’s resources (we’re now devouring the equivalent resources of 1.6 Earths annually). You can calculate your personal EOD and the chart on the back page shows how different food choices can move one’s date.