The staggering figures for this year's Earth Overshoot Day

Aug 6, 2021

With the collaboration of Statista.

Waste collectors look for recyclable materials at a landfill site.

At this rate, one Earth isn't enough. Image: REUTERS/Adnan Abidi

Katharina Buchholz

Data Journalist, Statista

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July 29, 2021, was Earth Overshoot Day, whereby all humans on Earth have used up more natural resources than can be reproduced in a year.
The resources of 5 Earths would be needed to satisfy the global need for resources every year if everyone lived like the U.S.
Other industrialized nations in Europe and Asia would use between 4 and 2.5 Earths if their lifestyle was universal.
Some countries use less than their allotment of resources, like in India, where the equivalent of 0.7 Earths were used in 2019.

If the citizens of the world lived like those of the United States, the resources of five full planets would be needed to satisfy the global need for resources every year.

This data is highlighted annually by the NGO Global Footprint Network, which also publicizes the date on which all humans on Earth have collectively used up more natural resources than mother nature can reproduce in a year. The so-called Earth Overshoot Day happened later than usual last year - on August 22, 2020 - due to the coronavirus pandemic. In 2021, it fell on July 29, the same day as in 2019. Before, it had moved forward gradually from August 18 in 2009.

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Industrialized nations have the biggest share in pushing the date forward. Qatar, Luxembourg and the United Arab Emirates are actually even bigger offenders than the U.S. The lifestyle in these countries would use up between 5.5 and 9.1 Earths if the whole world lived it but because of the small size of their populations, they actually have less of an influence on global resource depletion than bigger developed countries like the U.S.

an infographic showing different resources levels needed for each country's living habbit

The resources of five full planets would be needed to satisfy the global need if each country lived like the U.S. Image: Statista

Other industrialized nations in Europe and Asia would use between four and 2.5 Earths if their lifestyle was universal. Chinese living standards meant 2.3 Earths would be used up. Indonesians, with a local Earth Overshoot Day on Dec 18, 2021, were about on track of using up exactly the resources allotted to Earth citizens.

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Climate change poses an urgent threat demanding decisive action. Communities around the world are already experiencing increased climate impacts, from droughts to floods to rising seas. The World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report continues to rank these environmental threats at the top of the list.

To limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C and as close as possible to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, it is essential that businesses, policy-makers, and civil society advance comprehensive near- and long-term climate actions in line with the goals of the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The World Economic Forum's Climate Initiative supports the scaling and acceleration of global climate action through public and private-sector collaboration. The Initiative works across several workstreams to develop and implement inclusive and ambitious solutions.

This includes the Alliance of CEO Climate Leaders, a global network of business leaders from various industries developing cost-effective solutions to transitioning to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy. CEOs use their position and influence with policy-makers and corporate partners to accelerate the transition and realize the economic benefits of delivering a safer climate.

People in several countries also used up less than their allotment of resources, for example in India, where the equivalent of 0.7 Earths were used in 2019.

Emissions, but also the use of resources like wood, fish and land for crops are among the things counted in when calculating Earth Overshoot Day.

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