Earth Overshoot Day

Earth Overshoot Day is the day each calendar year when the human demand, the natural resources we consume and the carbon dioxide emissions we create, exceeds the planet’s ability to regenerate those resources and reabsorb the carbon emissions generated during the same calendar year.

Our first Overshoot Day occurred in the 1970’s and the date has come earlier and earlier each year.  Earth Overshoot Day for 2010 was August 21st.  It is calculated annually by the Global Footprint Network and was originally devised by the new economics foundation.