Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity has exhausted Nature’s budget for the year – when we have used all available resources and exceeded Earth’s capacity to absorb waste. For the rest of the year, we are going into deficit by drawing down local resource stocks and accumulating carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. We are operating in 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.
In 1971, Earth Overshoot Day was December 25. In 2023, it fell on August 2. Every year, we go a little more over budget.
These are global averages. Of course, the dates vary for individual countries. The estimated Overshoot Date for Canada for 2024 is March 15!! See how we compare to other countries.
In the chart below, the red shows the amount of global overshoot for each year. Note that in 2020, the year of Covid lockdowns, there was a slight reprieve. In 2023, we would have needed 1.7 Earths to satisfy our demands. Earth is generous but her resources and carrying capacity are not infinite.
Learn More: https://overshoot.footprintnetwork.org/