Humanity will have used up its allowance of planetary resources such as water, soil, and clean air for all of 2017 by Wednesday, a report said.
Earth Overshoot Day will arrive on August 2 this year, according to environmental groups WWF and Global Footprint Network. This is a day earlier than in 2016.
It means humanity will be living on "credit" for the rest of the year.
"By August 2, 2017, we will have used more from Nature than our planet can renew in the whole year," the groups said in a statement.
"This means that in seven months, we emitted more carbon than the oceans and forests can absorb in a year, we caught more fish, felled more trees, harvested more, and consumed more water than the Earth was able to produce in the same period."
The equivalent of 1.7 planets would be required to produce enough to meet humanity's needs at current consumption rates.
Calculated since 1986, the grim milestone has arrived earlier each year.
Description of Earth Overshoot Day, the date at which humanity's use of natural resources exceeds what the planet can regenerate
Description of Earth Overshoot Day, the date at which humanity's use of natural resources exceeds what the planet can regenerate in that given year. This year it falls on August 2.
In 1993, it fell on October 21, in 2003 on September 22, and in 2015 on August 13.
Greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal, oil and gas make up 60 percent of mankind's ecological "footprint" on the planet, said the groups.
There was some good news. While coming earlier every year, the advance of Earth Overshoot Day has slowed down, said the statement.
Individuals can contribute to stopping, and eventually reversing, the trend by eating less meat, burning less fuel, and cut back on food waste, said the report.
GMT 10:54 2018 Sunday ,02 December
Egypt wins membership of World Water Council board of governorsGMT 13:57 2018 Thursday ,29 November
UN weather agency: 2018 is fourth hottest year on recordGMT 12:50 2018 Saturday ,27 October
Tsunami alert issued for Mediterranean coast as earthquake strikes off GreeceGMT 12:32 2018 Friday ,26 October
6.5-magnitude quake hits western Greece, no casualties reportedGMT 16:06 2018 Wednesday ,10 October
Schools in southern Oman close ahead of cyclone in the Arabian SeaGMT 17:56 2018 Saturday ,06 October
Cyclone is expected to develop into a tropical storm at UAEGMT 13:37 2018 Thursday ,04 October
Madbouly signing ceremony of project to support adaptation to climate changeGMT 08:50 2018 Wednesday ,24 January
Tsunami warnings as powerful quake hits off AlaskaMaintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©
Send your comments
Your comment as a visitor