Earth Overshoot Day is the date when we have used more from nature than the planet can replenish this year. Can you guess the date?
This resource informs students what Earth Overshoot Day is and gives them an opportunity to calculate their best estimate for Earth Overshoot Day for the current year. Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year. For example, Earth Overshoot Day was on December 25 in 1971 and, 50 years later, it was on July 30 in 2021. Students can explore informational articles and videos to help calculate their estimate while also exploring possible sustainability-related solutions.
Organization: Global Footprint Network
Global Footprint Network is an international nonprofit organization founded in 2003 that advances the science of sustainability to change how the world manages its natural resources. They create metrics that are meaningful and scalable, actionable insights about natural resource consumption and capacity, and tools to guide informed decisions (Source).