From May 2, Germans live at the expense of the earth: three earths need to support current lifestyle

From May 2, Germans live at the expense of the earth: three earths need to support current lifestyle

The natural resources for the current year have already been used up if all people live like in Germany. The Earth Leaving Day in Germany falls on May 2 this year, which means that from this point in time it will be lived at the expense of others. This includes debts in people in the global south and in future generations that are faced with the effects of excessive use.

An essential factor for the consumption of natural resources is the high consumption of meat and other animal products. In particular, 56 percent of the grain produced in Germany serves as animal feed, which contributes to the deforestation of tropical forests by importing feed. It is the responsibility of politics to ensure more sustainable nutritional opportunities in canteens and create incentives for vegetable foods. In addition, the switch to public transport and the concept of the closed material circuit through long -lasting products and recycling is emphasized as effective measures to reduce ecological footprint.

The German overlap Day serves as a warning for a more sustainable lifestyle. Although the time of the German Earth Relief Day tends to move backwards - compared to 2017, when it was already on April 21 - this is still too slow. According to calculations by the Global Footprint Network, three earths would be required if all people worldwide show the same consumption behavior as Germans. The overlap day is calculated individually and globally for each country and includes the entirety of the natural resources and ecological capacities of the earth. Last year the global overlap of the earth fell on August 2nd.