Environmental economists say that August 20th this year is Ecological Liability Day. By this day, humanity will have consumed the total amount of Earth's renewable natural resources for the year.
The concept of "Ecological Debt Day" was first proposed by the international environmental think tank Global Footprint Network. It is based on ecological footprint data, including the total amount of natural resources, human resource consumption, and who consumes which resources. According to these calculations, as of August 20, 2013, humanity had already exhausted the Earth's annual natural resource production capacity, and for the remainder of the year, natural resources would enter a state of overdraft.
The Global Ecological Footprint Network points out that since 2001, Ecological Liability Day has moved forward three days each year and one month every decade. Ecological Liability Day was October 21 in 1993, moved to September 22 in 2003, and is August 20 this year.
The Global Footprint Network has developed "National Footprint Accounts," providing comprehensive data on human demand for natural resources. Each country generates approximately 6,000 data points annually to track and compare demand across 232 countries, territories, and regions, calculating whether the Earth's biocarrying capacity can meet the demand. Data shows that human demand for renewable ecological resources and services is equivalent to more than 1.5 Earths. By the middle of this century, human demand will increase to 2 Earths. However, in 1961, human demand could be met with just 0.7 Earths.
"Deforestation, fish population collapse, and atmospheric carbon dioxide accumulation all indicate that human demand may exceed the Earth's biosphere's capacity to absorb and regenerate," the Global Ecological Footprint Network points out. "With global economic expansion and the demand for higher living standards, human needs for natural systems are growing rapidly. Many studies indicate that various critical thresholds on Earth have already been crossed, and the biosphere's ability to support humanity in the future is at risk."
According to a 2013 report by the Global Footprint Network, China has the largest total ecological footprint in the world because it is the most populous country in the world. While China's per capita ecological footprint is smaller than that of European and North American countries, it has surpassed the world average over the past seven years. The Global Footprint Network states that "if everyone lived like a typical Chinese resident, it would take 1.2 Earths to feed the global population." Other countries have even higher per capita ecological footprint requirements. If everyone lived like a resident of the United States, it would take 4 Earths to feed the global population. Following the Qatari lifestyle, it would require the resources of 6.5 Earths.
Current natural resource trends are insufficient to support the world's 7 billion people. Yet, 2 billion people lack access to resources necessary for basic necessities. Today, over 80% of the world's population lives in countries where resource consumption exceeds resource regeneration. These "ecological debt countries" consume more resources than they possess, thus either depleting their own ecological resources or extracting them from elsewhere. The resources consumed by Japanese residents are equivalent to 7.1 times that of Japan. Italy consumes approximately 4 times that of Italy. Egypt consumes approximately 2.4 times that of Egypt.
The Global Ecological Footprint Network explains that the Ecological Debt Day is only an estimate, not an exact date. "It is impossible for us to calculate the date when the ecological budget is exhausted with 100% precision." The Ecological Debt Day in 2011 came a few weeks later than in 2010, but this does not mean that humanity's ecological debt has decreased. The adjustment to the debt date is based on actuarial methods, not on actual progress made by humanity in the ecological footprint.
While not all countries are "in debt," even "eco-creditor nations" like Brazil, Indonesia, and Sweden are experiencing a decline in natural resources. The Global Eco Footprint Network points out, "We cannot allow the budget gap between natural resources and human economies, infrastructure, and lifestyles to widen."
"We still have a chance to turn things around. As long as ecological debtors can reduce their dependence on natural resources, and creditors can preserve their ecological assets through economic, political, and strategic means. Instead of liquidating natural resources, we should view them as a source of wealth." The Global Ecological Footprint Network and its partners are working with various global organizations, governments, and financial institutions to help them make decisions that are in line with the current ecological situation.
Sources: Environmental Information Center (2013-08-20
