Mankind "devouring resources faster than she can create them"

Humanity is devouring our planet's resources in increasingly destructive volumes, according to a new study that reveals that we have consumed a year of carbon, food, water, fiber, of land and wood in a record of 212 days. As a result, Earth Day – which marks the point at which consumption exceeds nature's ability to regenerate itself – advanced two days to 1 August, the earliest date ever recorded

. According to Global Footprint Network, an international research organization that annually badesses how much humanity is falling into ecological debt, the warming began in the 1970s, with population growth and the Increase in average demand. consumption beyond a sustainable level. Since then, the day that humanity has destroyed its annual global budget has progressed.

Thirty years ago, the overtaking was on October 15th. Twenty years ago, September 30th. Ten years ago, August 15th. There has been a brief slowdown, but the pace has picked up in the last two years. On current trends, next year could be the first, the planet's budget is broken in July.

While food production, mining, land clearing and burning of fossil fuels improve in the short term (unevenly distributed), the long-term consequences are increasingly apparent in terms of soil erosion, water scarcity and climate disruption.

The judgment day is approaching, according to Mathis Wackernagel General Manager and co-founder of Global Footprint Network.

"Our current economies are running a Ponzi scheme with our planet" he said. "We borrow Earth's future resources to make our economies work in the present, like any Ponzi scheme, it works for a while, but as nations, businesses, or households become more indebted. in addition, they end up collapsing. "

The situation is reversible.The group's research indicates that political action is much more effective than individual choices.It notes, for example, that the 50% replacement of meat consumption by a vegetarian diet would push back the five-day overdue.

The improvement of the building and industry efficiency could make a difference of three weeks and 50% reduction of the carbon component of the footprint would give three extra months of respite.

In the past, economic downturns – which tend to reduce energy consumption – have also makes the green budget evolve in a positive direction. The 2007-2008 financial crisis pushed back the five-day date. Recessions in the 1990s and 1980s also eased some of the pressure, as did the oil shock of the mid-1970s.

But the general trend is for rising costs for global support systems. Separate scientific studies over the past year have revealed that one-third of the land is now severely degraded, while rainforests have become a source rather than a carbon sink.

Scientists have also warned of an increasingly erratic weather. and the disturbing declines of bee populations and other pollinating insects, which are essential for crops.-Guardian