July 28th is #EarthOvershootDay for 2022.
WTF is Earth Overshoot Day?
Glad you asked.
Earth Overshoot Day marks the point in the year where we've used up the amount of resources that the planet can regenerate in a year. So after this point we're basically going into debt and 'borrowing' (stealing) resources from future generations. We're using up the resources NOW, and they literally won't be available to future generations.
In 1971, we were pretty much living within our resources, and Earth Overshoot Day was 25th December.
9 years ago when I first came across the concept, we overshot on Aug 3rd.
Today, globally, we are using up 1.75 earths worth of resources each year.
You don't need to be a climate scientist, or an 'eco-maniac' to recognise that we only have one planet, and that if we keep consuming more than we can replace, then at some point this is going to catch up with us.
IT'S NOT ALL DOOM AND GLOOM THOUGH!!
Just as we've moved the date as society has grown and become more fossil fuel dependent and consumer focussed, and behaviours have changed, we can absolutely move the date in the opposite direction!
** Reforesting 350 million hectares of forest would move the date of #EarthOvershootDay by 8 days
** If we reduce our footprint from driving by 50% around the world and assume one-third of car miles are replaced by public transportation and the rest by biking and walking, #EarthOvershootDay would move back 13 days
** If we reduced global meat consumption by 50% and replaced these calories through a vegetarian diet, we would move #EarthOvershootDay 17 days (including 10 days from reduction of methane emissions)
So TODAY, could you pledge to:
- Support gold standard re-forestation projects?
Check out organisations like JUST ONE Tree
- Cut your car usage by 10/20/50%?
Apparently 38% of journeys in the UK are under 2 miles - replacing at least some of these with walking or cycling if you're able to
- Cut your meat consumption by 50%?
Start with Meatfree Monday and go from there!
