Earth Overshoot Day 2020 - Help #MoveTheDate

Earth Overshoot Day is the date when humanity in a given year has used up all the natural resources that Earth can regenerate in that year. Anything we use after that day, is more than the planet can provide. This year it falls on 22 August – about three weeks later than last year as a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic- but it’s still way too early.

Environmental degradation is affecting our health and that of our planet and is eroding the natural buffer we had against zoonotic diseases like COVID-19. Climate change is also a driver of this, as it can cause such diseases to be spread into new areas, for example. Therefore, we need to link COVID-19 recovery and response to climate and environmental action, and build back better. One place to start is with our own individual actions, by changing our lifestyles and habits. 

We all eat food, buy stuff, spend money, move in our communities, and like to have fun. These are the five main lifestyle areas where each human has an impact and where we can make choices to have a more positive impact on the planet.  These actions together can help save the planet.  Evidence shows that when we act together, these efforts can create the waves of change we need.

Social media campaign:

This Earth Overshoot Day, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), UNICEF and the European Commission, will come up with joint messaging around Earth Overshoot Day, thereby supporting the global Earth Overshoot Day campaign by the Global Footprint Network.

The emphasis will be on small actions that each of us can take to reduce our environmental footprints, presented by young people from Europe. These young people will show in a 30 seconds video what action they are taking to #movethedate of #EarthOvershootDay. 

Timeline of this video campaign: 12 th August (International Youth Day) – 22 th August (Earth Overshoot Day)

Between 12 and 22 August we will be issuing these videomessages on our social media channels across Europe,

Starting 17 August this effort will be complemented

by the launch of an AR Filter on instagram by the European Commission @ourplanet_EU and @UNEP, based on the Anatomy of Action, a handy action set for every day sustainable living developed by UNEP and UNSchool. 

Hashtags

#EarthOvershootDay #MoveTheDate  #BuildBackBetter

Follow us and share your action on how to  #MoveTheDate:

@UNEP_Europe     @UNICEF_EU        @EU_ENV    @EUClimateAction

UNEnvironmentEurope     UNICEF Brussels Office   

EU Climate Action    EU Environment

@ourplanet_EU    @UNEP

2. On 20 August, join the (virtual) European launch event organised by The Club of Rome & Global Footprint Network. More information here.