Last updated: 05 May 2023

Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year. Find here tips and useful resources to help you taking steps to #MoveTheDate.

About Earth Overshoot Day

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.

Switzerland Overshoot Day

Country Overshoot Day reflects the ecological footprint of a country by comparing the population’s demand and the nation’s biocapacity. From this date onwards, a country is living on credit at the expense of future generations.

For Switzerland, this day usually falls in spring. Find out more about activities for the day:

Reduce your ecological footprint

Calculate your ecological footprint

The Footprint Calculator computes for an individual how many planets would be needed if everyone on Earth had the same lifestyle than this individual. In order to do so, it calculates how much biologically productive area is needed to produce the resources for the human population and to absorb its carbon dioxide emissions.

Steps to #MoveTheDate

The Global Footprint Network invites you to explore steps you can take to help move the date of Earth Overshoot Day and create a sustainable future.

Geneva, a sustainable city: what can you do?

The City of Geneva offers suggestions of daily gestures and personal actions that can help reduce the environmental and social impact of all our activities.

CLEVER

The Biovision Foundation has created the platform CLEVER where consumers can evaluate the sustainability of everyday consumer products and find advice to have a responsible consumption.

YUKA

The YUKA application created in France in 2017 and available in other countries including Switzerland, aims at informing consumers on the content of food and cosmetic products and guiding them towards a healthier consumption. It can help consumers to use less resources as it provides them with incentives to think about their consumption habits.

Guide WWF

This application, available in Switzerland, gives consumers eco-tips to have a responsible consumption. For example, it gives advice on how to buy seafood, fruits and vegetables, souvenirs, and information on labels, among other things.

Labelinfo

Labelinfo.ch is a platform of the Pusch Foundation, allowing consumers to learn more on labels. Since 2015, it regroups information on the management, the environmental and social aspects, the processes and the controls of the major labels of the food sector.

The Anatomy of Action

The Anatomy of Action, developed by UNEP and UnSchool, aims to define and communicate the most positively impactful actions anyone of us can take to contribute to a sustainable world. The 15 days challenge will give you ideas on what actions you can take.

More on sustainable consumption and production

UN Sustainable Development Goal 12

Sustainable Development Goal 12 – Responsible consumption and production – aims to create a sustainable consumption and production by using less natural resources, by increasing resource efficiency and by promoting sustainable lifestyles.

Join EEA-FOEN Report | Is Europe living within the limits of our planet?

The European Environment Agency (EEA) and the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), published in April 2020, a joint study which assesses selected environmental footprints for Europe based on the concept of planetary boundaries.

Resource use in Switzerland

Discover what is happening in Switzerland concerning the use of natural resources and which measures are taken to have a more efficient use. The Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN) creates reports and initiatives to reach this goal.

Global Resources Outlook 2019

Report by the International Resources Panel analyzing the impacts of our growing resource use, and providing coherent scenario projections for resource efficiency and sustainable production and consumption that decouple economic growth from environmental degradation.

Planetary boundaries

Plantetary boundaries refer to the limits within which humanity can continue to develop and thrive for generations to come. Learn more on this concept developed by the scientists Rockström et al. from the Stockholm Resilience Centre.

Doughnut Economics

Discover this new economic model developed by scientist Kate Raworth focused on providing life’s essentials for all – such as food, water, healthcare and political freedom of expression -, while remaining within planetary boundaries.