This is the date when humanity’s demand on natural resources exceeds Earth’s capacity to regenerate them in a given year. The milestone highlights that we are currently using nature 1.7 times faster than our planet’s ecosystems can regenerate.

Earth Overshoot Day marks the point at which we begin to deplete our planet’s natural capital, causing significant ecological damage. This overuse results in deforestation, soil erosion, biodiversity loss, and an increase in carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, leading to more frequent extreme weather events and reduced food production.

Despite being consistent for the past decade, Earth Overshoot Day continues to occur early in the year, indicating persistent pressure on our planet. This ongoing overshoot leads to accumulated damage over time, exacerbating environmental challenges.

CEE Country-Specific Overshoot Days:

In Central and Eastern Europe, country.specific overshoot days differ considerably:

• Czech Republic: April 18
• Slovakia: May 12
• Hungary: May 25
• Bulgaria: June 2
• Romania: July 20
• Ukraine: September 30

This  clearly indicates that the Czech Republic overuses natural  resources the most, comparable to Germany, while Ukraine fares considerably better than other countries in the region and the global average.

Solutions to #MoveTheDate

There are financially viable solutions available that can help #MoveTheDate and create a sustainable future. Opportunities exist in five key areas: Cities, Energy, Food, Population, and Planet.

• Energy: Halving CO2 emissions from fossil fuels could #MoveTheDate by three months.
• Cities and Businesses: A new generation of circular-economy-focused companies are already leading the way by reducing overshoot while expanding. These businesses are poised to gain significant value in a future defined by climate change and resource constraints.

The #MoveTheDate Solutions Map invites people to champion existing solutions. Users can connect with each other on the basis of geography and focus of interest, accelerating the implementation of new projects in the real world. 

About Earth Overshoot Day

Earth Overshoot Day is announced annually on June 5th, World Environment Day. The date is calculated by dividing the planet’s biocapacity (the amount of ecological resources Earth can generate in a year) by humanity’s Ecological Footprint (our demand for that year), and multiplying by the number of days in the year. This year, being a leap year with 366 days, the calculation is as follows:

(Earth’s Biocapacity / Humanity’s Ecological Footprint) x 366 = Earth Overshoot Day

For more information and to explore solutions, visit Global Footprint Network.