How to HelpNot Translated Today, the pressure humanity puts on
the planet, its Ecological Footprint, is 50 percent greater than
the planet's ability to withstand this pressure. It now takes
the Earth one year and six months to regenerate what we use in a
single year. This global ecological overshoot is depleting the
natural capital on which all of life depends. Signs of this
environmental degradation are everywhere. Collapsing fisheries,
loss of forest cover, depletion of fresh water systems,
accumulation of CO2 in the atmosphere and the build-up of carbon
dioxide are just a few noticeable examples. If continued,
overshoot will permanently reduce the Earth's ecological
capacity and will lead to ecological collapse. To reverse this
trend, it is imperative that individuals and institutions
recognize the reality of ecological limits and make decisions
consistent with these limits. By scientifically measuring the
supply of and demand for ecological assets, the Ecological
Footprint provides a resource accounting t