Earth Overshoot Day: observed on August 22

“Earth Overshoot Day” was observed on 22nd August. The international research organization Global Footprint Network, which is also a partner organization of the New Economics Foundation observes the day every year.

What is the significance of the day?

• Earth Overshoot Day is observed to indicate the human’s demand for resources in the earth exceeds the capacity that could be generated by the earth for a particular year.
• The Global Footprint Network calculates the demand for and supply of natural resources and ecological services.

History of Earth Overshoot Day

The idea of Earth Overshoot Day was formulated by the New Economics Foundation. Global Footprint Network has been observing this day since 1970. August 22 is considered as the global overshoot day but each country has its own ecological debt at different times.

What is the function of the Global Footprint Network?

The independent think tank Global Footprint Network was formed in 2003 as a not-for-profit organization in the United States, Belgium, and Switzerland. It is associated with promoting and developing tools for advanced sustainability that includes ecological footprint and biocapacity, which gives a brief depiction of the resources we use and what is remaining.

What is the Ecological footprint?

It is a method formulated by the independent think tank, Global Footprint Network to calculate human demand on natural capital. It mainly focuses on accounting renewable resources.

Month: Current Affairs - August, 2020