August 19 is now marked as the Earth Overshoot Day- the day our ecological footprint in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year, according to the data from the Global Footprint Network.
Global Footprint Network is an international sustainability think-tank and the WWF partner.
Earth Overshot Day has now moved from 21 October in 2000 to 19th August, this year.
Earth Overshoot Day raises awareness on the concept of living unsustainably, based on ecological footprint data – measuring the quantity of Earth’s natural resources, how much we use and who uses what.
Forests are shrinking, freshwater resources are dwindling, land is depleting and biological diversity is being depleted. However, according to a press release from the WWF Bhutan, the WWF believes by taking action now, the trend can be reversed.
Hence, the WWF Living Himalayas Initiative has been working with the three east-Himalayan governments of India, Nepal and Bhutan to maintain a living Himalayas in the face of unsustainable development.
“Ecological Footprint is an important measure to understand the impact of human development and consumption on limited resources available on the planet, which we fully depend on,” says Sami Tornikoski, leader of the WWF Living Himalayas Initiative.
He adds, “Since the impacts and consequences of the choices we make are often felt in other countries, it is of utmost importance that countries are able work with each other to come up with solutions both for people and nature.”
