Topics Covered: Important Geophysical phenomena.
Earth Overshoot Day, 2021:
Context:
Earth Overshoot Day 2021 happened on July 29, almost a month earlier than the year before.
- It was pushed forward because emissions are on the rise and biodiversity loss is speeding up.
Who announces the date?
The date is announced annually by the Global Footprint Network, the global organisation calling for urgent climate action and sustainable consumption.
What is it?
Each year, Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when we have used all the biological resources that the Earth can renew during the entire year.
- This means humanity has again used up all biological resources that our planet regenerates during the entire year by 29th July, 2021.
Why it has been observed one month earlier this year?
- We’ve already seen a 6.6% increase in our global carbon footprint, while our global forest biocapacity decreased by 0.5% due to widespread deforestation in the Amazon rainforest.
- Deforestation had also increased by 12% in 2020, and estimates for 2021 suggest the figure will reach a 43% year-on-year increase.
What’s the concern now?
- At our current rate, we’re using around 1.7 Earths every single year. From now until the end of the year, we’re operating on “ecological deficit spending”.
- Our spending for 2021 is among some of the highest since we entered into the overshoot territory in the 1970s, based on UN data.
The concept of earth overshoot day:
The concept of Earth Overshoot Day was first conceived by Andrew Simms of the UK think tank New Economics Foundation, which partnered with Global Footprint Network in 2006 to launch the first global Earth Overshoot Day campaign.
How is it computed?
Earth Overshoot Day is computed by dividing the planet’s bio capacity (the amount of ecological resources Earth is able to generate that year), by humanity’s Ecological Footprint (humanity’s demand for that year), and multiplying by 365, the number of days in a year.
What is Ecological Footprint?
It is a metric that comprehensively compares human demand on nature against nature’s capacity to regenerate.
Insta Curious:
Have you heard of the term ‘Carbon Handprint’? Read Here Briefly
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- About the day.
- How is it calculated?
- Country-wise dates.
- What is Ecological footprint?
Mains Link:
What is Ecological footprint? Why is it significant? Discuss.
Sources: the Hindu.
