Earth Overshoot Day warns of escalating ecological, economic collapse

Humanity is consuming natural resources 1.8 times faster than Earth can regenerate, with this year's Overshoot Day falling earliest on record, calling for an urgent need for systemic reform

- ABDULAZIZ KHATTAK

JULY 24th marked this year's Earth Overshoot Day, the date when humanity's demand on nature surpasses Earth's capacity to replenish nature during the entire year.

Calculated by Global Footprint Network, the international sustainability organisation that pioneered the Ecological Footprint, this date is based on the National Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts maintained by York University.

Earth Overshoot Day falling on July 24th means that humanity is currently using nature 1.8 times faster than Earth's ecosystems can regenerate.

This overshoot occurs because people emit more CO₂ than the biosphere can absorb, use more freshwater than is replenished, harvest more trees than can regrow, fish quicker than stocks replenish, etc.

This overuse beyond what nature can renew inevitably depletes Earth's natural capital. It compromises long-term resource security, especially for those who already struggle to access the resources needed to operate.

Overshoot isn't just the driver behind biodiversity loss, resource depletion, deforestation, and the buildup of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, which intensifies extreme weather events.

It also fuels stagflation, food and energy insecurity, health crises, and conflict. Regions, cities, companies, and countries that have not prepared for this predictable reality face significantly higher risks.