The day of the overtaking, that is to say the moment when humanity lives on credit because it has already consumed all the natural resources that the planet has to offer, takes place Monday July 29th this year, according to Global Footprint Network. This is two months earlier than 20 years ago and a three-day decline from 2018.
"Humanity is currently using ecological resources 1.75 times faster" than ecosystem regeneration capabilities, the NGO said in a statement. And she warns: "We are nibbling the natural capital of our planet, thereby reducing its future regenerative capacity."
Consumption patterns vary from one country to another: "Qatar reaches its overtaking day after just 42 days, while Indonesia has consumed all resources for the entire year after 342 days," says WWF, partner at Global Footprint Network.
"If everyone lived like the French, it would take 2.7 planets" and five if everyone adopted the world of consumption of Americans.
To reduce the day of the overrun to December 31, "the main lever of action concerns our greenhouse gas emissions, which alone represent 60% of our global ecological footprint," says WWF. "By reducing CO2 emissions by 50%, we could gain 93 days in the year, or roll back the day of overtaking in October," says the NGO.
"By halving the consumption of animal protein, we could push back the date of the day of exceeding 15 days a year" and dividing the food waste by two could save ten days, says WWF.
With AFP