The Costa Rica News (TCRN) -In seven months and 20 days humans have used more natural resources than the planet can regenerate for the rest of the year 2013.
The Global Footprint Network nominated August 20 as the Earth´s Excess Day, an initiative that analyzes the ecological footprint of humanity. The aim of this initiative is to point out the impact of human activity on planet Earth.
In 1961, humanity used about two thirds of the ecological resources available on Earth. By that time most countries had ecological reserves. However, the population´s global demand has increased at an alarming rate.
In the early 1970s, increased carbon emissions and human demand for natural goods and services caused the planet to have the first “ecological deficit”.
Currently humanity´s demand for resources and ecological services is about 50% larger than the Earth can regenerate, in other words, 1.78 planets are required to meet the current demand of humans. Costa Ricans consume on average 1.6 countries per year.
To deal with this problem we must reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases resulting from the burning of fossil fuels, since we emit much more carbon than Earth is able to absorb.
The Costa Rica News (TCRN)
San Jose, Costa Rica
