About 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. We maintain this deficit by liquidating stocks of ecological resources and accumulating waste, primarily carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

Every year, the date for Earth Overshoot Day is announced on June 5 (World Environment Day). This timing, just a couple of months before the event, ensures it reflects the most up-to-date data.

The event 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 calculation builds on the National Footprint and Biocapacity Accounts, which are governed by FoDaFo and maintained by York University. To estimate the year’s Earth Overshoot Day, latest data points are used to make the date reflect as accurately as possible the reality of the actual year. Every year, Global Footprint Network announces the date for Earth Overshoot Day of the running year on June 5, which is also World Environment Day.

To determine the date of Earth Overshoot Day for each year, Global Footprint Network calculates the number of days of that year that Earth’s biocapacity suffices to provide for humanity’s Ecological Footprint. The remainder of the year corresponds to global overshoot. Earth Overshoot Day is computed by dividing the planet’s biocapacity (the amount of ecological resources Earth is able to generate that year), by humanity’s Ecological Footprint (humanity’s demand for that year), and multiplying by the number of days in a year. 2024 was a leap year with 366 days:

(Earth’s Biocapacity / Humanity’s Ecological Footprint) x 366 = Earth Overshoot Day

Earth Overshoot Day 2024 fell on August 1. Learn more about how the 2024 date was calculated. Or download the more detailed report here.