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July 26, 2018
Humans are using the earth's resources at an increasingly destructive rate, consuming less than seven months of carbon, food, water, fiber, land and wood. 19659004] This is the conclusion of a new study from the Global Footprint Network (GFN) that determined the world's ecological footprint by adding up all the competing demands on resources and infrastructure.
Calculations help GFN determine what is called Earth Overshoot Day date at which humanity has used more of nature than our planet can renew all over the world. ;year.
This year, Earth Day is expected to be August 1st, the earliest date ever recorded. According to the report, it would take 1.7 Earth to maintain our consumption of the planet's resources throughout the year.
Ecological surplus expenditures were recorded for the first time in 1970 as growing populations and increasing average demands pushed consumption beyond a sustainable level. excessive spending has led to deforestation, the collapse of fisheries, the scarcity of freshwater, soil erosion and loss of biodiversity. It also contributes to the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, leading to more severe climate change and drought, forest fires and hurricanes, according to the GFN
According to Mathis Wackernagel, president of the Network, the global economy is "running a Ponzi scheme with our planet" as we are depleting the resources needed for the future and falling "deeper into the ecological debt."
"The fires are raging in the western United States, on the other side of the world This has resulted in halving water consumption since 2015. These are consequences of the outbreak of the the ecological budget of our one and only planet, "warned Wackernagel
. Tallaght, Rathfarnham and HQ firefighters witnessed the scene Photo: Dublin Fire Brigade
The GFN report highlights four key solutions to overcoming environmental deficiencies, including the replacement of one-third of cars by public transit and fashions active transportation. According to the report, we could earn 30 days by 2050 by reducing by 50% the carbon component of our ecological footprint, which would reduce food waste. Replacing 50% of meat consumption with a vegetarian diet would delay five days past the deadline, the report adds.
GFN and its partners will mark Earth Overshoot Day 2018 with several activities around the world such as screenings, webinars and press conferences.
They will also present these events and more with interviews from around the world through a live broadcast on Facebook and YouTube.
Manus Boyle
Manus is a journalism student at DCU. He is interested in the environment, the outdoors and live music.
