14 DAY TRIAL // Yesterday marked Earth Overshoot Day. Otherwise put, it was the day human society officially started consuming more natural resources than our planet can replenish within one year's time.
Conservationists explain that, each year, Earth puts out a finite stock of renewable natural resources. These should last us for 12 months.
If they don't, as has been the case for several years now, human society inevitably starts taking more than what it is entitled to.
It goes without saying that this stresses the environment, and upsets the planet's natural balance.
“Today, 20 August, is Earth Overshoot Day – when humanity has used as much renewable natural resources as our planet can regenerate in one year,” the World Wildlife Fund sums up the significance of yesterday's “celebration.”
“For the rest of 2013, we are 'in the red' – effectively 'overdrawn' on the balance sheet of nature’s goods and services that we require to survive,” the organization goes on to detail.
According to the World Wildlife Fund, the fact that human society is using more natural resources than nature is courteous enough to put at its disposal is a major driving force behind climate change and global warming.
“Climate change is a major impact of overshoot, as using fossil fuels causes harmful emissions of carbon dioxide that the planet simply cannot absorb.”
“Forests are shrinking, fish stocks are waning, land is getting degraded, freshwater resources are dwindling, and biological diversity is depleting,” the organization explains.
Interestingly enough, it appears that, back in 1961, humanity was using little over 60% of the natural resources produced by our planet in one year's time.
Needless to say, both the planet and human society were better off in those days.
The World Wildlife Fund urges that countries worldwide quit abusing the planet and try to make do without exceeding their yearly quota of natural resources.
“For a clean and healthy future for our children, we must preserve the natural capital that is left – and be much better stewards of the planet we call home,” says Jim Leape, the organization's director general.
Check out the video below to learn more about Earth Overshoot Day.
