July 24 is Earth Overshoot Day, which marks the date when humanity has exhausted nature’s budget for the year. It means that for the rest of the year, we are using resources beyond what our planet provides.
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By Martina Igini
Today marks the day when humanity’s resource consumption exceeds the Earth’s capacity to regenerate those resources for the year, a reminder of how unsustainable modern consumption patterns are and how these are adding immense pressure to our planet’s ecosystems.
This year, it fell on July 24, a whole week earlier than last year; it has been getting earlier since the 1970s. At the current rate of consumption, experts estimate that it would take 1.8 Earths to produce and regenerate all the resources we use today.
Overshoot days are calculated for individual countries, too. This year, singapore had the earliest overshoot day (January 3), followed by Israel (January 19), the Bahrain (January 24) and Qatar (January 24). China’s Earth Overshoot Day fell on Marh 16 and the US’s on June 30. Lithuania has the latest one on November 28.
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- 🗳️ Vote for climate action: Exercise your democratic rights by supporting candidates and policies that prioritize climate change mitigation and environmental protection. Stay informed with Earth.Org’s election coverage.
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- 🌱 Embrace sustainable habits: Make sustainable choices in your everyday life. Reduce single-use plastics, choose eco-friendly products, prioritize a plant-based diet and reduce meat consumption, and opt for sustainable fashion and transportation. Small changes can have a big impact.
- 💬 Be vocal, engage and educate others: Spread awareness about the climate crisis and the importance of environmental stewardship. Engage in conversations, share information, and inspire others to take action. Together, we can create a global movement for a sustainable future.
- 🪧 Stand with climate activists: Show your support for activists on the frontlines of climate action. Attend peaceful protests, rallies, and marches, or join online campaigns to raise awareness and demand policy changes. By amplifying their voices, you contribute to building a stronger movement for climate justice and a sustainable future.
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