WorldFish observes Earth Overshoot Day 2020

Campaign Day: 22 August 2020

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Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity consumes more from nature than the planet can renew within a year. In 2020, we reach this day on 22 August, an improvement of 24 days compared to last year. The COVID-19 pandemic response has halted travel and interrupted supply chains causing humanity to consume fewer resources. However, the sustainability that allows people and planet to thrive must be achieved through design, not disaster.

In 1961, humanity used only 73 percent of the biological resources that Earth could renew that year. In 2020, humanity uses 160 percent of what Earth’s biocapacity can renew this year. That’s as much as if we lived on 1.6 planets. It’s urgent we use less now by being smart about the way we consume resources.

The response to the COVID-19 pandemic presents a unique opportunity to build forward better and make considerable ground to #MoveTheDate. As part of recovery efforts, we must reimagine our ecological footprint to forge sustainable pathways that support people and planet…

To read the rest of WorldFish’s Director-General, Gareth Johnstone’s message, visit our landing page. Explore some of our scientists’ quotes, publications, blogs, projects, and videos related to Earth Overshoot Day 2020,

Don’t forget to join us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter and follow the hashtag #MoveTheDate as we will be covering Earth Overshoot Day updates from around our organization throughout the week.