Latest news with #EarthOvershootDay
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- General
- New Straits Times
How Malaysians can push back Earth Overshoot Day
LETTERS: Earth Overshoot Day (EOD) marks the date when humanity's demand for ecological resources exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that same year. In 2025, this day falls on July 24, 2025, about a week earlier than in 2024, when it was marked on Aug 1. This means we are consuming natural resources at a faster rate than before, deepening our ecological deficit. This year's EOD highlights a disturbing fact: humanity is living as though we have 1.8 Earths to support our consumption patterns. Since 1970, we have been in ecological overshoot. Our cumulative ecological debt has now grown to the point where Earth would need 22 years to regenerate what we have used. This represents an unsustainable path and a warning that we cannot continue business as usual. For Malaysians, this is not just a global issue but also a local one. As consumers, we must reflect on how our everyday habits contribute to this imbalance. From excessive energy usage and food waste to overreliance on single-use plastics and imported goods, each choice adds up. What can Malaysian consumers do? Buy only what you need. Avoid impulsive purchases and reduce waste, especially food waste. Store food properly and finish leftovers. Choose items with less packaging or bring your bags and containers. Support the local economy. Buy locally made goods and produce. This reduces the carbon footprint from transportation and helps strengthen our local economy. Conserve energy. Turn off lights and appliances when not in use. Use energy-efficient equipment. Consider using solar-powered solutions where possible. Repair instead of throwing things away. Reuse items when you can, and recycle properly. Encourage children and family members to do the same. Join community efforts and support local environmental programmes, such as tree planting or clean-up drives. Talk to friends and neighbours about small lifestyle changes that can make a big difference. As a nation, we have a shared responsibility to protect the Earth. If we fail to change course, future generations may face severe environmental challenges that range from extreme weather and resource shortages to biodiversity loss. If we take action today, we can move the date of Earth Overshoot Day later each year. This would be a sign that we are moving toward balance and sustainability. Let us be remembered not as the generation that used up the Earth, but as the one that restored it.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UP gets its first solar EV charging station, aims for 22,000 MW solar push by 2030
The state's first solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging station was opened in Banthra under Sarojininagar constituency on Friday. The station was inaugurated by BJP's Sarojininagar MLA Rajeshwar Singh. Calling solar energy "a responsibility for Earth's future, not just an alternative," Singh stressed its role in tackling air pollution and climate change. He noted that over 8 million people die annually from air pollution, with more than 2.5 million deaths in India alone. Highlighting Earth Overshoot Day, Singh warned that in 1972, humanity exhausted its annual natural resource quota by Dec 23, but in 2024, it fell to Aug 1-indicating unsustainable consumption. He shared that UP currently has over 3.75 lakh registered EVs and offers attractive subsidies to promote green mobility. Each EV can save 1.5 million grams of CO₂ per year. With a 30% EV adoption target by 2030, India could save $60 billion in oil imports annually. Singh praised CM Yogi Adityanath's solar mission to expand UP's solar capacity from 288 MW in 2017 to 22,000 MW by 2030.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
UP's 1st solar powered EC charging stn opens
Lucknow: The state's first solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging station was opened in Banthra under Sarojininagar constituency on Friday. The station was inaugurated by BJP's Sarojininagar MLA Rajeshwar Singh. Calling solar energy "a responsibility for Earth's future, not just an alternative," Singh stressed its role in tackling air pollution and climate change. He noted that over 8 million people die annually from air pollution, with more than 2.5 million deaths in India alone. Highlighting Earth Overshoot Day, Singh warned that in 1972, humanity exhausted its annual natural resource quota by Dec 23, but in 2024, it fell to Aug 1—indicating unsustainable consumption. He shared that UP currently has over 3.75 lakh registered EVs and offers attractive subsidies to promote green mobility. Each EV can save 1.5 million grams of CO₂ per year. With a 30% EV adoption target by 2030, India could save $60 billion in oil imports annually. Singh praised CM Yogi Adityanath's solar mission to expand UP's solar capacity from 288 MW in 2017 to 22,000 MW by 2030. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Brother's Day wishes , messages and quotes !
RTÉ News
19-05-2025
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
5 ways to live a sustainable life with circular thinking from Junk Kouture
Junk Kouture is on a mission to empower young people to embrace circular thinking and sustainable living in their everyday lives. Tune in to the Junk Kouture Dublin City Final tonight at 7pm on RTÉ2 & RTÉ Player! As part of a growing global movement, Junk Kouture encourages youth to reimagine waste and take action within their schools and communities to support a more sustainable future. The competition shines a light not just on the environmental costs of fast fashion, but on the broader need for circular solutions, where resources are reused, repurposed, and revalued rather than discarded. Here, the Junk Kouture team shares five key facts about circular living, community impact, and the importance of sustainable choices, especially for young changemakers. 1. Humanity is consuming 1.7 times more resources than the Earth can regenerate each year This is known as Earth Overshoot Day, the date each year when our resource use exceeds what the planet can replenish. It's a sign that our "take-make-waste" system is unsustainable. Circular thinking helps push back that date by reducing waste, conserving materials, and shifting to regenerative practices. 2. Three out of five fashion garments end up in a landfill within a year of purchase Fast fashion is a major culprit, but the disposable culture extends far beyond wardrobes. From day-to-day supplies to packaging, we're taught to value convenience over longevity. Embracing circular thinking means repairing, reusing, and reimagining items to extend their life and young people are leading the charge in this shift. 3. Over 90% of materials used in manufacturing globally are wasted after a single use The current global economy is only 7.2% circular, according to the Circularity Gap Report 2023. That means the vast majority of resources extracted like metals, plastics, and textiles are never cycled back into use. The goal of a circular economy is to close that loop through design, innovation, and behaviour change. 4. Microplastics are not just in the ocean, they're in us Over one third of all ocean microplastics come from synthetic textiles, and those particles have made their way into the food chain, water systems, and even our bodies. Solutions come not just from switching fabrics, but from rethinking how we design, care for, and dispose of products. Circular thinking teaches us to consider the full lifecycle of everything we use. 5 Community-led circular solutions are gaining ground While only a small percentage of textiles are formally recycled, young people are leading innovative grassroots solutions like swap-shops, upcycling workshops, zero-waste school initiatives, and digital sharing platforms. These actions contribute to key UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, and SDG 13: Climate Action.
Scoop
29-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Aotearoa NZ Reaches ‘Earth Overshoot Day' On 30 April: Time To Act For A More Sustainable Future
New Zealand is set to mark its Earth Overshoot Day today (30 April 2025), three months earlier than the global average of 30 July. The latest Briefing from the Public Health Communication Centre explains how we can achieve a more ecologically sustainable society that also supports improved public health. Earth Overshoot Day signals the moment when our demand for ecological resources exceeds what Earth can regenerate in a year, highlighting the urgent need for a shift towards more sustainable practices. If everyone lived like New Zealanders, we would need almost three Earths. In contrast, countries like Uruguay are showing that a different path is possible. Their overshoot day is not projected until 17 December, demonstrating that it is possible for even high-income countries to live within their ecological footprint. "Earth Overshoot Day is a powerful wake-up call," says University of Otago Public Health Professor Michael Baker. "Although it simplifies complex environmental systems, it helps communicate just how urgently we need to change course, for the sake of our environment, our economy and our health." The Briefing points to countries like Uruguay, which show that strong environmental policies, widespread renewable energy adoption, sustainable agriculture, and compact, low-carbon cities can make a real difference. Prof Baker says there are several ways NZ can reduce its ecological footprint. Boost renewable energy investments and transition to cleaner energy across transport, industry, and homes. Accelerate sustainable transport by investing in public transport, cycling infrastructure, and more compact urban design. Promote sustainable agriculture with regenerative practices, native reforestation, and local food systems to reduce waste and improve resilience. Encourage sustainable consumption, including a shift to healthier plant-based diets, reduced consumption and sustainable lifestyles by citizens and whanau/families. Embed sustainability in policymaking, ensuring that environmental conservation and resource management are core to decision-making. While Earth Overshoot Day provides a clear signal of unsustainability, it does not capture all aspects of environmental health, such as biodiversity loss or pollution beyond CO2 emissions. Experts emphasise the importance of using a range of tools, including the Sustainable Development Goals and Earth system boundaries, to guide effective policy. "This is not just an environmental issue, it's a public health and economic opportunity," says Professor Ralph Chapman, an environmental economist with Victoria University. "By acting now to reduce our ecological footprint, we can improve wellbeing, build resilience, and help ensure a better future for all New Zealanders."
