Earth Overshoot Day is calculated every year by the Global Footprint Network to signify the date when the demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can reproduce within that year. This means that for the remainder of the year, humanity will be living on natural resources borrowed from future generations.
According to Earth Overshoot Day, the planet maintains this ecological deficit by liquidating stocks of ecological resources and accumulating waste — primarily carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
If you happened to walk through Cape Town CBD on Wednesday, you would have come across a peculiar tug-of-war taking place outside the Civic Centre between people wearing oil can masks and suit jackets — representing the fossil fuel industry — and people wearing pink jumpsuits — representing climate activists and eco-justice groups.
In the middle of the rope was the sign “Move the date”. The essence of the demonstration was that there is a constant battle between the “fossil fuel industry” seeking to use more of the planet’s dwindling natural resources, and climate activist groups seeking to decarbonise, increase renewable energy uptake and promote more sustainable practices and living.
Read the full article by Kristin Engel on Daily Maverick here