Earth Overshoot Day
Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year. In 2023, Earth Overshoot Day landed on August 2. We maintain this deficit by liquidating stocks of ecological resources and accumulating waste, primarily carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Earth Overshoot Day is hosted and calculated by Global Footprint Network, an international research organization that provides decision-makers with a menu of tools to help the human economy operate within Earth’s ecological limits. The date for Earth Overshoot Day 2024 will be announced on June 5.
Image source: WWF Japan and Global Footprint Network;
Ecological Footprint for Sustainable Living in Japan
Past Earth Overshoot Days
To maintain consistency with the latest reported data and science, the Ecological Footprint metrics for all past years since 1961 (the earliest year data is available) are recalculated every year, so each year’s metrics share a common data set and the exact same accounting method. The annual dates of Earth Overshoot Day are recalculated accordingly.
Country Overshoot Days
A country’s overshoot day is the date on which Earth Overshoot Day would fall if all of humanity consumed like the people in this country. Countries’ overshoot dates are calculated with Global Footprint Network’s National Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts, which are updated annually. You can explore the latest results of the National Footprint Accounts 2023 Edition at data.footprintnetwork.org.
