Earth Overshoot Day 2021: 29th of July
As Earth Overshoot Day hits, the world and Germany are largely unprepared to deal with its consequences, despite many available options.
Embargoed until July 28 2021, 6pm GMT
SUMMARY: This year’s Earth Overshoot Day has moved back to the pre-pandemic date, suggesting a return to business- as- usual. We are accelerating the depletion of the planet on which every economy depends. This puts all countries at risk, particularly those who are already running an ecological deficit, like Germany. However, actionable ways exist to #MoveTheDate of Earth Overshoot Day in Germany and abroad, not just to combat the climate and biodiversity crisis, but also to protect one’s own country, city, or business.
WUPPERTAL — JULY 29, 2021 — From January 1st until today, humanity has used as much from nature as the planet is able to regenerate during this entire year. Hence today is Earth Overshoot Day. Overshoot is the underlying cause of most environmental ills from biodiversity loss to deforestation, water and air pollution, fisheries collapse, and greenhouse gas accumulation in the atmosphere, leading to ever wilder weather patterns.
Human demand persistently overwhelming the biosphere may be the second most severe challenge humanity is facing in the 21st century. The challenge imposed by overshoot is only topped by one other: the risk of not responding. Tragically, most cities, corporations, and countries –including Germany– are exposing themselves to this risk. They rely on many economic strategies that will not prepare them for the predictable future of climate change and resource constraints.
According to National Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts, using the latest UN statistics, which also determine Earth Overshoot Day, the residents of Germany use three times more from nature than ecosystems in Germany can renew. It is like using 3 “Germanys”.
Pushing back the date of Earth Overshoot Days is possible if we re-design our infrastructures, make our processes far more resource efficient, decarbonize our energy systems, capture CO2 through reforestation and other means, and live in ways that require fewer resources. In fact, preparing our cities and their infrastructure to be able to operate in the future we can anticipate, including that has weaned itself off fossil fuel, is one of the best investments. Those who lag with future-proof investments are more likely to be stuck with stranded assets.
“Growing resource overuse around the globe is leading to a predictable future of climate change and resource constraints. Preparing our cities for this future, thereby investing in our community, is the most obvious way to improve our own chances for a secure future,” concludes Uwe Schneidewind, Lord Mayor of the City of Wuppertal. “This also guides me in my efforts to make Wuppertal resilient, which in return also contributes to a more stable world.”
Unattended, overshoot turns into an unmanageable economic risk because overshoot will end, whether by design or disaster. In contrast, reacting to overshoot has solid economic upsides. And many options exist: Cutting our car dependence by half would buy humanity 13 days; if all homes in Germany adopted “passive house” standards, German Overshoot Day would move back 16 days; if 40% of Germany’s residents switched to bicycle transportation, as supported for instance by Wuppertal’s Northern Railway Line, German Overshoot Day would move back 5 days.
To highlight these options and celebrate the upcoming climate convention in Glasgow, Global Footprint Network is launching 100DaysOfPossibility.org on Earth Overshoot Day. It reveals every day up to COP26 opportunities to postpone Earth Overshoot Day and #MoveTheDate. They are economically viable, help reverse ecological overshoot and support biological regeneration, with examples from Germany and abroad.
We #MoveTheDate. The reason is obvious: waiting provides us with no gain.
There are many ways to #MoveTheDate. Here are some cool options from around the world. Which ones move and inspire you?
Interactive Solution Map
100 Days of Possibility
#MoveTheDate Solutions from Germany
Additional Resources
- Earth Overshoot Day provides al the background explanation for Earth Overshoot Day, including infographics and videos.
- 100 Days of Possibility launched by Global Footprint Network on Earth Overshoot Day, will reveal opportunities to reduce overshoot every day up to the climate COP26 in Glasgow this November.
- Featured solutions from Germany: overshootday.org/germany-solutions
- Post your preferred solutions on movethedate.overshootday.org
- data.footprintnetwork.org provides data from the National Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts for all countries from 1961 onwards. Estimates for Germany and other countries are available here. These accounts are maintained by York University for Footprint Data Foundation (www.FoDaFo.org)
- The latest results for Germany (Nowcast up to 2020)
- Press release in multiple languages
- June press release on Earth Overshoot Day 2021
About the Ecological Footprint
The Ecological Footprint is the most comprehensive biological resource accounting metric available. It adds up all of people’s competing demands for biologically productive areas – food, timber, fibers, carbon sequestration, and accommodation of infrastructure. Currently, carbon emissions from burning fossil fuel make up 60 percent of humanity’s Ecological Footprint.
About Global Footprint Network
Global Footprint Network is an international sustainability organisation that is helping the world live within the Earth’s means and respond to climate change. Since 2003 we’ve engaged with more than 50 countries, 30 cities, and 70 global partners to deliver scientific insights that have driven high-impact policy and investment decisions. Together, we’re creating a future where all of us can thrive within the limits of our one planet. www.footprintnetwork.org
About CSCP
The Collaborating Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production (CSCP) is an international, non-profit think and do Tank based in Wuppertal, Germany, working with policymakers, businesses, partner organizations and civil society to create a good life for everyone on our planet. With over 40 ongoing projects both locally and internationally, we are shaping the transformation to future-proof lifestyles, new business models and sustainable products and services. www.scp-centre.org
Media Contact
Amanda Diep (in California, USA)
amanda.diep@footprintnetwork.org
+1 (510) 839-8879 ext.304
Laetitia Mailhes (in France)
laetitia.mailhes@footprintnetwork.org
+33 650 979 012
This project is supported by Stiftung Mercator
