What is Earth Overshoot Day

• Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year. 
• We maintain this deficit by rapidly using the stocks of ecological resources and accumulating waste, primarily carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 
• Earth Overshoot Day is hosted and calculated by Global Footprint Network, an international research organization that provides decision-makers with a menu of tools to help the human economy operate within Earth’s ecological limits.

How is the date determined?

• To determine the date of Earth Overshoot Day for each year, Global Footprint Network calculates the number of days of that year that Earth’s biocapacity requires to provide for humanity’s Ecological Footprint. 

• • The remainder of the year corresponds to global overshoot. 
  • Earth Overshoot Day is computed by dividing the planet’s biocapacity (the amount of ecological resources Earth is able to generate that year), by humanity’s Ecological Footprint (humanity’s demand for that year), and multiplying by 365, the number of days in a year:
  • (Earth’s Biocapacity / Humanity’s Ecological Footprint) x 365 = Earth Overshoot Day

• Earth Overshoot Day 2021 lands on July 29.

Why in the news?

• The overshoot day in 2019 and 2020 were July 29 and August 22 respectively. The shift in 2020 was due to decrease in foot-print as the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world. 
• But in 2021 the date shifts back to July 29, because of a 6.6 per cent increase in the global carbon footprint in 2020.
• WWF has pointed out that in 2021 it will be even worse as there would be a 43 per cent year-over-year increase in deforestation.
• Global energy-related CO2 emissions will increase 4.8 per cent from last year as economies try to recover from the impact of COVID-19. 
• The WWF has said a business-as-usual scenario will simply not work if the date for World Overshoot Day is to be pushed behind.
• It suggested a number of measures such as cutting down on food wastage, commercial technologies for buildings, industrial processes and electricity production and cutting down on transportation.

References:

1. https://www.overshootday.org/about-earth-overshoot-day/
2. https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/environment/-earth-overshoot-day-has-shifted-back-to-july-29-says-wwf-78144
3. https://wwf.panda.org/discover/knowledge_hub/teacher_resources/webfieldtrips/ecological_balance/eco_footprint/