Earth Overshoot Day 2022

This year’s Earth Overshoot Day falls on 28 July 2022. Here’s a look at what Earth Overshoot Day is, what it means for our environment and how we can help move this date.

Earth Overshoot Day marks the date in the calendar when the human demand for Earth’s natural resources exceeds what the planet can generate within a year. Put simply, once we’ve passed Earth Overshoot Day, it’s a clear indication that we are using the Earth’s resources at an unsustainable rate.  

The date is calculated on the basis of data supplied by the Global Footprint Network, which determined that in 2022, we’re using as much ecological resources as if we lived on 1.75 Earths.

A country’s overshoot day is determined by working out whether its Ecological Footprint per person is less than the global biocapacity per person, which is 1.75 global hectares. If a country exceeds its allowance, it’s using resources the Earth can’t replace quickly enough.

Every nation on the planet is responsible for Earth Overshoot Day. Each individual country’s Overshoot Day is based on their demand and use, with some nations being bigger culprits than others. However, Earth Overshoot Day is a key indication of our global resource consumption patterns, and reminds us of the collective impact each country has.

No two countries consume natural resources in the same way, so it stands to reason that their Overshoot Day will be different for many countries – some countries don’t have a determined Overshoot Day if their Ecological Footprint per person is less than the global biocapacity per person. Let’s be clear though – while an Overshoot Day later in the year may seem like a good indication, a country’s goal should be to have no determined Overshoot Day at all. Having a later Overshoot Day just means that these nations don’t take as long to exceed their allowance.

Ideally, we wouldn’t have an Earth Overshoot Day at all, because we shouldn’t be exceeding our biological resource budget! With that being said, moving the date of Earth Overshoot Day will be a great indication of progress made on this front.

There are many contributing factors from different industries and activities that influence Earth Overshoot Day, but some of the biggest culprits are:

• The amount of energy we consume, specifically non-renewables, like coal and oil. We need to be investing and using renewable energy, like solar and wind power and reducing our reliance on our cars.

• Resources required to feed the human population, and the amount of food that goes to waste. Not only does it take a lot of energy to grow the crops that feed our feed, but the cost of transporting goods from one place to another also consumes dirty energy that’s negatively impacting the environment.

Being responsible for Earth Overshoot Day doesn’t solely lie with politicians. Every day people can do their bit to reduce the demand for Earth’s natural resources. It starts with small changes to your lifestyle and spreading the word.

Change your eating habits

Vegan and vegetarian diets are less resource intensive. Consuming less meat and animal products, particularly beef and dairy products, and switching to plant-based alternatives can go a long way to helping. 

For example, China’s government has committed to reducing half of its meat consumption by 2030, which would shrink humanity’s Ecological Footprint by 377 million global hectares, and move the date of Earth Overshoot Day back 5 days. This figure also includes methane emissions from cow flatulence. 

Waste not, want not

Some 1.3 billion tonnes of food is wasted every year, which equates to about a third of all food produced to feed humans. What’s more, roughly 40% of the food goes to waste in the United States. According to the UN, cutting the world’s food waste by half would move Overshoot Day by nearly two weeks.

Rethink your energy consumption

57% of humanity’s Ecological Footprint comes from carbon. By reducing carbon from humanity’s Ecological Footprint in half changes our consumption of 1.75 of Earth’s resources, right down to 1.1 and moves the date of Overshoot Day by nearly three months.

The key to success is using the Earth’s resources effectively and sustainably, and the good news is that simple changes to our lifestyles can make a huge difference in eradicating the concept of Earth Overshoot Day. 

Let’s use this year’s Earth Overshoot Day to serve as a clear call to action for more sustainable resource use by collectively focusing our efforts on safeguarding Earth’s resources through ecological restoration, GHG reduction, and supporting initiatives, businesses, and politicians that put the planet first.

We all have a part to play in collectively ensuring a sustainable future 🌎

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