World Overshoot Day 2024

Human overconsumption is depleting the Earth’s natural resources at an alarming rate, driven by rapid population growth, industrialisation, and an insatiable demand for consumer goods. This unsustainable exploitation reduces the availability of resources for future generations and causes significant environmental damage, including deforestation, biodiversity loss, pollution, and climate change.

World Overshoot Day marks the date each year when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in that year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that same year. For the rest of the year, we maintain our ecological deficit by drawing down local resource stocks and accumulating carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. It also serves as a call to action for individuals, communities, and governments worldwide to adopt measures that ensure we live within the means of the planet, safeguarding its resources for future generations. This year, World Overshoot Day falls on 1^stAugust.

Fun fact! Each country has its own overshoot day.

To learn about this, click on the Earth image.

Solutions

The given overshoot day of the year is not set in stone, and through wise, forward-looking decisions, we can turn around natural resource consumption trends while improving the quality of life for all people. Below are five key areas that can have a significant impact in moving the date back:

Planet

Due to the massive overuse of the planet’s biological resources, our economies are now limited by Earth’s biocapacity. To ensure a healthy planet that can support us we should start practising intervention activities such as conservation, restoration, regenerative agriculture, and sustainable fisheries.

Cities

By 2050, 70% to 80% of people are expected to live in urban areas. Therefore, smart city planning, and urban development strategies are crucial to ensuring sufficient biological regeneration and avoiding excessive human demand.

Energy

Decarbonisation is crucial for addressing climate change and balancing our Ecological Footprint with the planet’s renewable resources. Phasing out fossil fuels is also essential to enhance countries’ energy self-reliance during geopolitical turmoil.

Food

Two significant issues in addressing food sufficiency and hunger are resource inefficiency in food production and food waste. To tackle these challenges, we can plant trees alongside crops to protect them from disease, improve yields and minimise food waste by practising composting.

Population

As the population increases, pressure on the planet also rises, despite unevenness in our respective footprints. Given the complexity of the population issue, it is important to support key actions that benefit the population such as quality education, equitable resource distribution and women empowerment.

To learn more about solutions for each area, head towards the Power of Possibility section on the World Overshoot Day website.