Mankind is exceeding earth’s regenerative capacity by 50%. We are breaking three planetary boundaries that cannot be exceeded to sustain human life (see “Planetary Boundaries”). Global and regional assessments indicate that biodiversity loss, habitat destruction and ecosystem degradation will continue or accelerate.
Seven planets
The current production and consumption levels of mankind requires 1.5 planet earths. If everyone lived like an average Western European, nearly four planets would be needed, and for an average American lifestyle nearly seven planets would be needed.
WWF (2016), p. 39.
Earth Overshoot Day
Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s environmental impact in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year. Since 2000, overshoot has grown. Consequently, Earth Overshoot Day has moved from early October in 2000 to August 13th in 2015. This entails an excess of 50% over the production capacity of the earth.
For more information, visit the website of the Global Footprint Network.
The state of nature
A growing global population with rapidly changing consumption patterns for food, mobility and energy is exerting an ever-increasing pressure on ecosystems and their life-supporting services. For instance, dietary changes might override population growth as the major driver of global demand for land in the near future. Meat-based food requires about five times as much land per unit of nutritional value as its plant-based equivalent. Another development is the rise in bioenergy. Land allocated to cultivating bioenergy crops could have significant ecological impacts, such as deforestation, nitrogen pollution and freshwater scarcity. In addition to threats from overexploitation and nutrient pollution, ocean warming and acidification are projected to pose serious and increasing risks to marine ecosystems.
Exacerbated by climate change and continued pollution, global and regional assessments indicate that biodiversity loss, habitat destruction and ecosystem degradation will continue or accelerate.
