Earth Overshoot Day is upon us already

As is August, so now we have a new member of the Sick Phoque Club to induct - July 2019's the time for humanity and its attitude towards the environment. And here's why: the world has already used up humanity’s allotment of natural resources for 2019, environmental campaigners warned last night as they emphasised the urgent need for action. As of the 30th, the world’s population had consumed more resources than the planet can sustainably regenerate for the rest of the year, according to the Global Footprint Network (GFN). It branded the day “Earth Overshoot Day” and said in a grim warning that it was the earliest the annual marker has ever occurred, as it has moved up by two months over the past 20 years. And at current consumption rates, GFN said the equivalent of 1.75 planets would be required to produce enough to meet humanity’s needs. Mathis Wackernagel, founder of the California-based organisation said: “We have only got one Earth - this is the ultimate defining context for human existence. We can’t use 1.75 Earths without destructive consequences. Our current economies are running a Ponzi scheme with our planet. We are borrowing the Earth’s future resources to operate our economies in the present. Like any Ponzi scheme, this works for some time. But as nations, companies, or households dig themselves deeper and deeper into debt, they eventually fall apart.” JUST STOP IT, EVERONE. ESPECIALLY YOU, BIG OIL.