Earth Resources In The Red

We’ve used up the planet’s resources for 2016 in less than eight months with fishing and deforestation rates outstripping the planet’s recovery

09:15 12 August 2016

Environmental campaigners have warned that we have used up the Earth’s budget of natural resources for a year in less than eight months. People are catching fish and cutting down forest quickly than the nature can replenish them. We are also putting more carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere than the oceans and forests can absorb.

 

This results in ‘Earth Overshoot Day’ or the point in the year when the annual supplies of trees, fish and land have been exhausted, outstripping Earth’s capacity to absorb greenhouse gases. Experts say that this leads to the planet sliding into ‘ecological debt’ earlier and earlier. 

 

Mathis Wackernagel, co-founder and chief executive of the Global Footprint Network said: 'Such a new way of living comes with many advantages, and making it happen takes effort.

 

'The good news is that it is possible with current technology, and financially advantageous with overall benefits exceeding costs.

 

'It will stimulate emerging sectors like renewable energy, while reducing risks and costs associated with the impact of climate change on inadequate infrastructure.

'The only thing we need more of is political will.'