Earth Overshoot Day

As of August 8th, we’ve used more resources than the planet can replenish in a year. That day is Earth Overshoot Day, and it has been happening about one day earlier every year, which is an improvement. It is also troubling because that means we are using up the planet, and that is not a sustainable strategy. We crossed that boundary in the 1970s. Even as processes have become more efficient, our growing population and increasing quality of life means we’ve tripled our consumption in the last 40 years, and are expected to do so again by 2050. A dramatic shift in our lifestyles is going to happen, whether by choice or consequence.

(Click on the chart for the link.)

“Humans Are Gobbling Up Natural Resources At A Terrifying Rate” – Grist