We use 1.7 times more resources than Earth can reproduce

According to estimates by the Global Footprint Network, 7.8 billion people use far more resources than the Earth can naturally regenerate, and emits much more waste than it can absorb. It is estimated that at the present level of consumption, we are consuming the equivalent of 1.7 of the planet's resources. Human overexploitation of the Earth seriously undermines nature's ability to sustain life, societies, and economies. Progressive urbanization, as well as the existing production and consumption patterns, are causing nature to degrade faster than ever before. Urgent action is needed on the part of all of us to reverse this trend.

This year, the day of ecological debt fell on August 22, while 30 years ago it was on December 19. It is the date when humanity's demand for and consumption of natural resources exceeds the Earth's ability to supply or replace them annually, and it is calculated by dividing the total natural resources of the biosphere by the global ecological footprint and then multiplying by the number of days in a year. Thus, we know that world consumption is high, 1.7 of the planet's resources. According to Eurostat, Poles do not differ significantly from the EU average. According to the report ‘Consumers and the circular economy’, we buy too much, disregarding the environmental costs. And yet our daily habits and consumer choices have a significant impact on the environment and the fight against climate change, which is becoming more and more felt also in Poland.

(WBJ)