If for many the lockdown was a particularly difficult period, the environment instead benefited. Yes, because man has consumed less, and finally there and gentle cosmetics has run its course. And this has also had a significant effect in calculating the annual consumption of resources. Do you know what Earth Overshoot Day is? An important day to understand how much humanity is consuming and therefore to think about what measures to take to respect the planet more. And this day just falls today. As industry experts say, this year we gained a month. We explain why.
Earth Overshoot Day, the analysis of a research institute
The Global Footprint Network, the international research institute, is in charge of the study on the planet. Experts devised the method for calculating resource consumption. With the forced closure imposed in recent months, it was calculated that in 2020 the carbon footprint was reduced by 14,5%. This happened due to the global economic slowdown caused by Covid-19.
How Overshoot Day is calculated
In comparison we compare the needs of humanity, carbon emissions, cultivated land, exploitation of fish stocks with the use of forests for timber and the capacity of the planet to regenerate these resources and to absorb the carbon emitted. L'Overshoot Day therefore is the day in which humanity consumes entirely the resources produced by the planet throughout the entire year. Last year this date fell on July 29, but in the high years it has always gone backwards. In fact, the current consumption of resources is equal to 1,7 times the annual regenerative capacity of the earth. The risk, for experts, is that in 2050 humanity will consume well double what the Earth produces.
The reduction of the times for the calculation of the Overshoot Day
If then nature and the entire planet have had a great benefit in the months of lockdown something should be done for a greater and global commitment to environmental protection. In fact, this is certainly not a structural change. Rather a temporary effect that occurred due to the closure of many activities and therefore to the measures adopted by the governments of many countries. But things could change as early as next year, researchers fear, if preventive action is not taken. And above all, we do not change the way we produce, distribute and consume. It was 15 years since this date had not been recorded so late: in 2005 it fell on 25 August.
What to do to improve the environment
There are many factors that unfortunately lead to a lack of respect for the environment. For example, industrial and intensive fishing is emptying seas and oceans. Fish don't have time to grow and reproduce. The increase in the world population and the scarce resources typical of our species also cause the reduction in time. Deforestation produces between 12 and 20 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, increasing global warming. It is up to us, therefore, to try in our small way to reduce our consumption, because a real revolution can start from small gestures.
