Covid delays 2020's Earth Overshoot day by a month versus 2019; '1.6 Earths needed'

This year, Earth Overshoot Day 2020 was reached on August 22. Earth Overshoot Day marks day for that particular year when world has used up its resources Earth has to offer for year. From that day onwards world starts consumption in excess of what Earth has to offer, in turn growing ecological deficit by drawing down local resource stocks and accumulating carbon dioxide in atmosphere. This means that humanity has consumed Earth's resources for year in 234 days. At this rate, it would take 1.6 Earths to support humanity sustainably.

Stats of 2020 in comparison with last year

In simple terms, Earth Overshoot Day marks date when humanity exhausts nature's budget for year. This year Earth Overshoot Day arrived nearly a month later than previous year. Last year it fell on July 19. Experts say this late arrival is due to COVID-19 as world was under lockdown due to pandemic, halting commercial activities across world.

date, which is calculated by Global Footprint Network (GFN) says coronavirus outbreak has caused humanity’s “ecological footprint” to fall by 9.3% this year from 2019. main drivers for reduction were Carbon Footprints which reduced by 14.5% from 2019 and Forest Product Footprint reduced by 8.4% from 2019 while Food Footprint remain unchanged.

However, according to International media,  GFN President Mathis Wackernl said this was t something to celebrate as achievement of pushing Earth Overshoot Day to a later date in year was t done by design but by a disaster.

Countries with Ecological Footprint exceeding Biocapacity

According to data shown on Global Footprint Network, India's percent of ecological footprint exceeding biocapacity stands as 173%, while that of US is 122%, Pakistan 129%. Germany stands at 199% and Sri Lanka at 198%, while China stands at 278%.  UK stands at 301%. Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates have alarming levels overshooting above 1,400%. Singapore stands at top with 9,950%.

Countries with Biocapacity exceeding Ecological Footprint

While countries that have biocapacity exceeding ir footprints include Cana, Australia, New Zealand, Russia and a few European nations such as rway and Sweden and some of African countries rich in natural resources and biodiversity.

Check full list of countries here  

One can even check his/her personal overshoot day on http://www.footprintcalculator.org/ to kw what date y individually end up using natural resources Earth has to offer to m.

Global Footprint Network also suggests measures to #MoveDate which can be checked on ir website