A variable date that reminds us every year that our ecological footprint is far greater than the regenerative capacity of the planet
Earth Overshoot Day marks the date on which the environmental impact of human demand for natural resources exceeds the regenerative capacity of the ecosystem for that year. It puts the spotlight on the relationship between our ecological footprint and the planet’s biocapacity to regenerate itself. In other words, in terms of sustainability, year after year, human beings are destroying more rapidly than the planet is regenerating, thus disrupting a balance that is necessary for the earth’s survival. This is a very significant date, as it reflects an increasingly alarming dynamic since the last century. This year is also particularly noteworthy, as it will be the first time that Earth Overshoot Day has been put back from July 29, the date in 2019, to today, August 22, 2020. The bad news is that this environmental progress was not brought about by voluntary and systematic change, but by the pandemic.
One of the objectives of the Athletic Club Foundation in the field of the environment is related to ecological awareness and the visibility of the challenges we face as a society, which are included in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the UN. The Foundation’s Sustainable Development Challenge is framed within this field and is another small step towards bringing the Earth Overshoot Day as close as possible to December 31. More information can be found about this initiative and how the date is calculated HERE
