Switzerland Overshoot Day 2026

Earth Overshoot Day 2026

Each year, Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity has used all the biological resources that Earth can renew during the entire year. Earth Overshoot Day is hosted and calculated by Global Footprint Network, an international research organization that aims to provide information and solutions to live in the means of the planet.

In 2025, Earth Overshoot Day landed on 24 July. This means that humanity currently uses nature 80% faster than Earth’s ecosystems can regenerate, meaning this overshoot is equivalent to using 1.8 Earths. Since global ecological overshoot began in the early 1970s, annual deficits have accumulated into a growing ecological debt, which now amounts to the equivalent of 22 years of the Earth’s full biological productivity. In other words, if ecological overshoot were fully reversible, it would take 22 years of the planet’s full regenerative capacity to restore the lost balance. If overshoot continues at its current level, this debt will grow by approximately 0.8 planet-years each year.

From Earth Overshoot Day until the end of the year, humanity operates on ecological deficit spending. The date falls one day earlier than last year, showing that humanity has continued to widen its annual ecological deficit. In 2020, the date was exceptionally pushed back by 24 days due to pandemic-induced resource-use reductions; however, five years after, this progress was only temporary as the date of this year shows.

Switzerland Overshoot Day

A country’s overshoot day marks the date when Earth Overshoot Day would fall if all of humanity consumed at the same level as the people in that country.

Switzerland’s Overshoot Day 2026 falls on 11 May. From this date onward, Switzerland will be living on credit at the expense of future generations. If the world’s population had the same lifestyle as Swiss citizens, the resources of 2.8 planets would be necessary to ensure its existence.

The country overshoot days for 2026 are based on the preliminary 2026 edition. For most countries, the dates reflect the 2024 situation—the latest data point currently available. The full 2026 edition will be released soon.

Reduce Your Ecological Footprint

Find more resources to reduce your own ecological footprint and learn more about sustainable consumption and production in our update on the topic.

Links

• When one planet is not enough | Gian-Luca Savino, GDI Gottlieb Duttweiler Institute | 20 April 2026
• Country Overshoot Days 2026 | Global Footprint Network | 15 January 2026