Earth overshoot day may sound like an anniversary for when a comet overshot the earth, narrowly missing us and almost causing a second mass extinction after the dinosaurs. Hooray! But it isn’t. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. For this day does indeed lead us to our doom and unfortunately, we have set a new record this year.
Earth overshoot day is the day, each year, that society consumes more than the sustainable allowance of resources for a year. So, if we want to have enough resources to sustain our societies for many generations, we should not exceed what scientists have deemed a sustainable amount and, theoretically, we should have no earth overshoot day.
When this annual day first began in 1970, the earth overshoot day was 29th of December - not bad eh?
This year, not even 50 years later, earth overshoot day is the 1st of August. "We have consumed a year’s worth of carbon, food, water, fibre, land and timber in a record 212 days" (The Guardian)
Sustainability is a term that gets thrown around quite a bit and has become this umbrella idea concerning environmental conservation. People use it as a promotional tool, "sustainably sourced timber" and as a way of identifying as a "concerned and active citizen". But now we need to wake up to this incredibly important word and start to understand what it actually means.
Sustainability is the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance. And while this word is associated with all the right things, it is time to get back to basics and understand the fundamental message we are missing. We are draining the earth of its natural resources faster than it can replenish them. It's like a bath; the water is draining faster than the tap can fill it up and the water line is very near the bottom!
When this annual day first began in 1970, the earth overshoot day was 29th of December - not bad eh?
This year, not even 50 years later, earth overshoot day is the 1st of August. "We have consumed a year’s worth of carbon, food, water, fibre, land and timber in a record 212 days" (The Guardian)
Sustainability is a term that gets thrown around quite a bit and has become this umbrella idea concerning environmental conservation. People use it as a promotional tool, "sustainably sourced timber" and as a way of identifying as a "concerned and active citizen". But now we need to wake up to this incredibly important word and start to understand what it actually means.
Sustainability is the avoidance of the depletion of natural resources in order to maintain an ecological balance. And while this word is associated with all the right things, it is time to get back to basics and understand the fundamental message we are missing. We are draining the earth of its natural resources faster than it can replenish them. It's like a bath; the water is draining faster than the tap can fill it up and the water line is very near the bottom!
We have reached the end of our leeway and now we need to commit to sustainability and renewable resources. Here in Australia, we are in the perfect place to embrace these energy sources with an abundance of sun, wind, heat and water. We really are the perfect storm for a sustainable future and yet we aren’t embracing a philosophy of green living.
In order for us to truly push earth overshoot day back towards December, we need to make an effort from all aspects of society; government, communities and individuals. Government needs to implement new legislation that protects our resources and encourages industries to invest in renewable resources. Communities need to get on board and support local initiatives and spread awareness about the issues surrounding sustainability and resources. But most importantly, each and every one of us needs to stand up and show that we demand cleaner energy plans and we want out from fossil fuels - they are so last year!
In order for us to truly push earth overshoot day back towards December, we need to make an effort from all aspects of society; government, communities and individuals. Government needs to implement new legislation that protects our resources and encourages industries to invest in renewable resources. Communities need to get on board and support local initiatives and spread awareness about the issues surrounding sustainability and resources. But most importantly, each and every one of us needs to stand up and show that we demand cleaner energy plans and we want out from fossil fuels - they are so last year!