DW News asks 'Earth Overshoot Day: What can we do to try live within the planet’s limits?'

A late Earth Overshoot Day! It snuck up on me this year, as I was expecting it between now and August 1st. Instead, it was on July 24, the earliest ever. That's when DW News uploaded 'Earth Overshoot Day': What can we do to try live within the planet’s limits?

Today marks what one NGO calls 'Earth Overshoot Day'. The Global Footprint Network says that's the day that humans have used more of Earth's resources than the planet can regenerate in a year. Scientists say the date is getting earlier every year. So what can we do to try live within the planet’s limits?

It pleases me to see India used as a good example. It's one of the reasons I show my students Chasing Ice instead of An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power; I didn't like Al Gore bullying the Indian delegation to the Paris Accord negotiations, even though it worked. Go bother the Chinese!

One of the points Beatrice Christofaro makes is about the A in I=P*A*T, "where I is impact, P is population, A is affluence, and T is technology. It's the A and inefficient T that is multiplying the impact of the effect of the relatively small P in the developed world, especially in North America." Deliberately making people less affluent isn't a viable solution; people don't like being poorer and will object. On the other hand, convincing people to be less wasteful, particularly creating less food waste and eating less meat, especially beef, would be helpful. Once could consider that to be a technology. So is renewable energy. Between the two, it would move Earth Overshoot Day back more than a month. Progress!

I close with two videos about Human Footprint beginning with Human Footprint SEASON 2 PREVIEW from AZPM.

Earth has never experienced anything like us: a single species dominating and transforming the planet. Biologist Shane Campbell-Staton travels the globe to explore our Human Footprint and to discover how the things we do reveal who we truly are.

I'm looking forward to seeing more clips from Human Footprint on YouTube and am already planning on embedding the video about mosquitos for World Mosquito Day. In the meantime, I'm sharing a follow-up to 'Human Footprint' on PBS Terra explains 'How Supermarkets Rewired The Planet', Omega Mart on Consumerism and Shopping Habits After Human Footprint Appearance | Nevada Week from Vegas PBS.

PBS’ Human Footprint makes a stop at Omega Mart for its “Shelf Life” episode. We talk to Omega Mart about the experience and the ways the exhibit highlights modern consumerism.

That was wild and even weirder than it looked in the "Shelf Life" episode of Human Footprint. I can now say there there is an intelligent attraction in Las Vegas beyond the sheer spectacle the city is known for.

That's a wrap for today's belated observance of an environmental holiday. Stay tuned as I return to the Emmy Awards with the nominations for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.