On August 13, let’s take action to live within the ecological budget of our planet!
August 13 is Earth Overshoot Day, the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year. In less than eight months, humanity has used up nature’s budget for the entire year, with carbon sequestration making up more than half of the demand on nature.
We maintain this deficit by liquidating stocks of resources and accumulating waste, primarily carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Ecological overshoot is possible only for a limited time before ecosystems begin to degrade and possibly collapse, as we are currently experiencing through water shortages, desertification, soil erosion, reduced cropland productivity, overgrazing, deforestation, rapid species extinction, fisheries collapse and increased carbon concentration in the atmosphere.
The climate talks at the United Nations Conference of Parties (COP) 21 this December may require nations to implement policies to phase out fossil fuels, which would directly impact humanity’s Ecological Footprint. Join us in a global agreement to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Show your support via Twitter, Facebook or both, and also spread the word to your friends and followers to do the same.