On July 27, we observe Earth Overshoot Day. This is a momentous occasion for all of us to reconsider our lifestyle and resource consumption. Our planet’s ability to regenerate resources is limited. However, we are utilising it at a greater rate each year. Earth Overshoot Day was created to raise awareness about the resource depletion that our modern lifestyle is causing. Once resource regeneration reaches its limit, the remaining resources are exploited, worsening the situation. Earth Overshoot Day was conceived by Andrew Simms to monitor the ecological resources and natural services we consume.
The background of Earth Overshoot Day
How long can we survive on planet Earth? A meteor of reasonable magnitude, a large solar flare, or an X-ray burst from a star could wipe out humanity in a matter of seconds. We need not search for astronomical phenomena to create a doomsday scenario. Our actions are creating enormous obstacles for existence on Earth. The sea level is steadily rising due to global warming. If a third world war were to occur, it could result in nuclear warfare and send the world back to the ice age. Even more severe and undervalued is the issue of natural resource consumption.
We have been wasting and taking for granted our resources. Renewable resources require renewal time. If our utilisation rate exceeds the renewal rate, then we are overusing the resources. Earth Overshoot Day (also known as E.O.D.) is a calculation based on our resource consumption and the planet’s ability to regenerate. We will obtain the E.O.D. by calculating their ratio and multiplying it by the number of days in a year. The date is growing earlier each year as we continue to overuse our resources.
Earth Overshoot Day was conceived by Andrew Simms in order to comprehend the rate at which we consume our natural resources and how long they can be sustained. We utilise natural resources at an extremely rapid rate. According to the most recent calculation, we would need 3,6 Earths to have the same amount of resources as the Netherlands used.
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5 FACTS ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY YOU SHOULD BE AWARE OF
Renewable energy accounts for only 12.2% of U.S. energy consumption.
Despite being among the world’s leading natural gas producers, the United States consumes more natural gas than it produces.
By 2040, it is anticipated that renewable resources will provide approximately 15% of the world’s energy requirements.
Between 1980 and 2014, the energy consumption rose by 26%.
U.S. energy production only meets about 89% of the country’s requirements.
EARTH OVERSHOOT DAY DATES
Year | Date | Day |
---|---|---|
2022 | July 28 | Thursday |
2023 | July 27 | Thursday |
2024 | July 25 | Thursday |
2025 | July 24 | Thursday |
2026 | July 23 | Thursday |