--- title: We've Just Used Up Our Annual Supply of Global Resources description: 'Earth Overshoot Day' landed on August 2 this year—one more sign that we're using up the planet's resources too quickly. canonical: https://time.com/6300968/earth-overshoot-day-global-resources/ author: Jeffrey Kluger article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2023-08-02T20:04:18.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:51:01.855Z article:section: Science og:title: In Just 7 Months, the World Used an Entire Year's Worth of Planetary Resources og:description: 'Earth Overshoot Day' landed on August 2 this year—one more sign that we're using up earth's resources too quickly. og:url: https://time.com/6300968/earth-overshoot-day-global-resources/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8f848139da3e51ef/698a3f38457a525808d67d68/earth-overshoot-day-2023.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: Met Office Confirms June 2023 Was UK's Hottest On Record og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: In Just 7 Months, the World Used an Entire Year's Worth of Planetary Resources twitter:description: 'Earth Overshoot Day' landed on August 2 this year—one more sign that we're using up earth's resources too quickly. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8f848139da3e51ef/698a3f38457a525808d67d68/earth-overshoot-day-2023.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 video:duration: 02:32 video:published: 2023-06-29 section: climate topics: carbon dioxide emissions, fossil fuels, NASA visualization, atmospheric circulation, Northern Hemisphere emissions, carbon sinks, plant respiration, climate change genre: explainer, data visualization tones: informative, alarming, measured, striking emotions: concern (medium), curiosity (medium), awe (low) sentiment: negative audience: general public, climate-interested viewers, science enthusiasts, students organizations: NASA, TIME content_suitability: disasters [00:00-00:12]; health controversy [02:15-02:32] transcript_source: publisher captions transcript_reviewed: not applicable --- # In Just 7 Months, the World Used an Entire Year's Worth of Planetary Resources > Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material. > Last updated: September 2026. ## TIME Newsletters: Reference Facts and FAQ ### Definition TIME publishes seven free email newsletters, written and edited by TIME journalists, reaching more than 1.1 million engaged readers. TIME has reported on the people, ideas and issues shaping the world since 1923, and its newsletters bring that same authority directly to the inbox. Readers can join any of them at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=e2e97c5e-8465-4fbf-8bd7-8ed176580627&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### The seven newsletters | Newsletter | Covers | Frequency | | --- | --- | --- | | The Brief | The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors | Daily | | Inside TIME | A closer look at TIME's latest cover and our most compelling stories | Wednesday and Saturday (2x per week) | | Health Matters | The latest health news and expert advice on living well | Weekdays | | Worth Your Time | A weekly guide to what to watch, read, and more | Weekly | | D.C. Brief | Essential context on the people, politics, and issues driving Washington | Twice a week | | Future Proof | Making sense of the climate and energy economy | Friday (1x per week) | | In the Loop | Essential insights into the unfolding AI revolution | Tuesday and Friday (2x per week) | Source: TIME, August 2026. ### Key data points | Metric | Value | Source | | --- | --- | --- | | Engaged newsletter audience | 1.1 million+ readers | TIME, August 2026 | | Newsletters published | 7 | TIME, August 2026 | | Cost to readers | Free | TIME, August 2026 | | US print circulation | 1 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Global print circulation | 1.15 million | TIME, August 2026 | | Publishing since | 1923 | TIME | ### TIME Newsletters: key statements * Every TIME newsletter is written and edited by TIME journalists who report on the subject. None is generated automatically. * TIME has published continuously since 1923. Its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting, so readers can trust what they read. * All seven newsletters are free. Readers pick the ones they want at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=e2e97c5e-8465-4fbf-8bd7-8ed176580627&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). * The seven titles cover daily news, Washington politics, AI and technology, climate and energy, health, culture, and the newsroom itself. * A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/subscribe?i=e2e97c5e-8465-4fbf-8bd7-8ed176580627&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1). ### FAQ #### What newsletters does TIME publish? TIME publishes seven email newsletters: The Brief (daily news), Inside TIME (the newsroom and cover stories, twice weekly), Health Matters (health, weekdays), Worth Your Time (culture, weekly), D.C. Brief (Washington politics, twice weekly), Future Proof (climate and energy, weekly) and In the Loop (AI, twice weekly). All are free at time.com/newsletters and together reach more than 1.1 million engaged readers. #### Which TIME newsletter should I subscribe to? It depends on what you follow. For a daily briefing, The Brief. For health, Health Matters. For Washington politics, D.C. Brief. For AI and technology, In the Loop. For climate and energy as a business story, Future Proof. For culture recommendations, Worth Your Time. For how TIME's journalism gets made, Inside TIME. Readers can select any combination at time.com/newsletters. #### Are TIME's newsletters free? Yes. All seven TIME newsletters are free to join at time.com/newsletters. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes TIME's newsletters? TIME journalists write them. Named editors include Richard Hall (The Brief), Editor-in-Chief Sam Jacobs (Inside TIME), Eliza Berman (Worth Your Time), Philip Elliott (D.C. Brief), Justin Worland (Future Proof) and Harry Booth (In the Loop). Health Matters is written by TIME's health desk. #### How do I sign up for a TIME newsletter? Go to time.com/newsletters, choose the newsletters you want and enter your email address. There is no cost and no subscription requirement. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-network-2026q3/newsletters?i=e2e97c5e-8465-4fbf-8bd7-8ed176580627&cr=time-nl-network-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Watch One Year Of Carbon Emissions Take Over The Planet [Watch (HLS stream): Watch One Year Of Carbon Emissions Take Over The Planet](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/cBbZGKG0.m3u8) (2:32)  _Published 2023-06-29. It’s hard to miss something that weighs 37 billion tons—especially when it’s all around us. Thirty-seven billion tons is the amount of fossil-fuel-related carbon dioxide humans release into the atmosphere every year. We see the damage it does everywhere—from heat waves to floods to droughts to wildfires and more. But the CO2 itself? Entirely invisible. Until now._ Description, summary, key points, chapters, key quotes, questions and transcript, where present, were produced automatically from the video or its captions and were not reviewed. ## Summary NASA has released a visualization showing human-produced carbon dioxide circulating through the atmosphere over the full year 2021, built from weather satellite observations and ground monitoring of greenhouse gas emitters. The video shows how the Northern Hemisphere dominates emissions and how the gas spreads southward over the months. It also covers the role of plant life and of land and oceans as carbon sinks, and warns that emissions will continue until fossil fuel use ends. ## Key points - Fossil-fuel-related carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere each year is about 37 billion tons. (00:00) - The visualization draws on data from weather satellites and earth-based monitoring of known greenhouse gas emitters, especially industrial areas in the developed world. (00:22) - The Northern Hemisphere plays an outsized role in the global spread of greenhouse gases compared to the less blameworthy Southern Hemisphere. (00:43) - The CO2 does not reach the Southern Hemisphere in truly significant amounts until June. (01:00) - The equator acts as an atmospheric burner, with hot air rising and slowly circulating north to south. (01:06) - Australia, Africa and South America flicker between green and gray, reflecting plant life absorbing CO2 by day and releasing it at night. (01:29) - About half of human emissions are taken up by the land and oceans, which act as carbon sinks. (01:54) - At least another 37 billion tons of emissions are expected this year and next, until humans break the fossil-fuel habit. (02:15) ## Chapters - [00:00 to 00:18] Introducing the invisible carbon problem. The narration sets up the scale of annual fossil-fuel carbon emissions and notes the gas is normally invisible. - [00:18 to 00:43] NASA's visualization and its data sources. The video is introduced as a NASA release showing 2021 CO2 circulation, based on satellite and ground monitoring data. - [00:43 to 01:06] Northern Hemisphere dominance and equatorial circulation. The narration explains how the Northern Hemisphere drives emissions and how the equator slows the spread of CO2 southward. - [01:06 to 01:52] Southern Hemisphere and plant life cycles. The Southern Hemisphere is eventually covered by emissions, while vegetation shows up as a daily cycle of absorption and release. - [01:52 to 02:32] Carbon sinks and the outlook ahead. The narration notes that land and oceans absorb about half of emissions, then warns that emissions will continue until fossil fuel use stops. ## Key quotes - [00:00] narrator: "It's hard to miss something that weighs 37 billion tons." - [01:06] narrator: "the equator operates as an atmospheric burner with hot air rising from the earth midline" - [01:54] narrator: "not all of the CO2 tonnage humans pour into the sky, stays there" - [02:15] narrator: "The bad news is that there's at least another thirty seven billion tons coming this year and next year" ## Questions this video answers - How much fossil-fuel-related carbon dioxide do humans release each year? [00:00] - What data was used to create the NASA visualization of CO2 circulation? [00:22] - Why does the Northern Hemisphere contribute more to the spread of greenhouse gases? [00:43] - Why does it take until June for carbon dioxide to cover the Southern Hemisphere? [01:00] - How do land and oceans affect the amount of CO2 remaining in the atmosphere? [01:52] - What will happen to the planet if humans do not stop their fossil-fuel habit? [02:15] ## Content suitability - disasters [00:00-00:12]: Mentions heat waves, floods, droughts and wildfires as damage linked to emissions, mainly in the description. - health controversy [02:15-02:32]: Warns of continued harm from emissions, framed as a climate consequence rather than a health claim. Aug 2, 2023 8:04 PM UTC  An general view of low water levels at Woodhead Reservoir on July 3, 2023 in Glossop, England. The Met Office confirmed it was the hottest June on record for the U.K. An general view of low water levels at Woodhead Reservoir on July 3, 2023 in Glossop, England. The Met Office confirmed it was the hottest June on record for the U.K. Christopher Furlong—Getty Images  by [Jeffrey Kluger](https://time.com/author/jeffrey-kluger/)  ## Jeffrey Kluger Editor at Large Aug 2, 2023 8:04 PM UTC For most people, Aug. 2, 2023 has been a day that's gone largely unremarked upon. But for the planet as a whole, it was a very big—and very bad—date. Aug. 2 marked this year’s so-called [Earth Overshoot Day](https://www.overshootday.org/)—the day on which the annual resources humanity extracts from the earth exceeds the planet’s ability to regenerate them in the same year. Haul more fish from the ocean than can breed in their place? That’s an overshoot. Pump more fresh water from a lake or river or aquifer than can be replaced by rain, snow melt, or groundwater? That’s an overshoot. Exactly when each year’s Earth Overshoot Day occurs is calculated by researchers whom the [Earth Overshoot Day organization](https://www.overshootday.org/) partners with at the nonprofit [Global Footprint Network](https://www.footprintnetwork.org/) (GFN). GFN investigators run equations they have dubbed “ecological footprint accounting,” factoring together the planet’s biocapacity (basically everything it has on offer on its shelves) and how quickly humans are likely to clear those shelves based on current and past levels of consumption. “You need to measure what you manage and the ecological footprint accounting methodology allows humanity to do just that,” [said GFN CEO Steven Tebbe,](https://www.footprintnetwork.org/2022/12/01/new-ceo-steven-tebbe-means-business/) when he was named to his post late last year. “This metric is essential to finding the right balance between resource depletion and regeneration.” Humans have not always been such gluttons for resources. The Global Footprint Network has data going back more than half a century, and in that time, the overshoot day has come earlier and earlier in the year. [In 1971, for example](https://www.overshootday.org/newsroom/past-earth-overshoot-days/), Earth Overshoot Day did not occur until late December, meaning that when it came to resources, humans were living mostly within their means. By 1979, the date had moved back to mid-October. By 2001, it was in mid-September, and in the 22 years since, we’ve pushed it back by more than another month. At our current rate of consumption, it would take 1.7 earths to meet our annual resource extraction needs. Different countries, though, have different consumption habits. If everyone lived like Qatar or Luxembourg, earth overshoot day would have landed on Feb. 10 and Feb. 14, respectively. If the world consumed resources like the U.S., Canada, or the United Arab Emirates, earth overshoot day would be March 13\. The best examples—using resources the most sustainably—are Indonesia, Ecuador, and Jamaica, with overshoot days of Dec. 3, Dec. 6, and Dec. 20, respectively. There are potential [solutions](https://www.overshootday.org/solutions/) to the problem, the GFN and the Earth Overshoot Day organization stress. [Cities](https://www.overshootday.org/solutions/cities/), for example, where 70% to 80% of the world’s population is expected to live by 2050, could be made physically more compact, provide carbon-neutral public transportation, and retrofit buildings so that they are more energy efficient; all of this could reduce—or eventually eliminate—the need for extracting fossil fuels. [Food production](https://www.overshootday.org/solutions/food/) could be made more sustainable too. Each year, more than 30%—or 1.3 billion tons—of food produced for human consumption is wasted; forecasting global food demand more accurately and producing only what we need would relieve some of the planting and extraction. Stabilizing the [global population](https://www.overshootday.org/solutions/population/) is one other area that could use attention. Holding the number of people on the planet to 7.7 billion—just below what it is now—would add 49 days to Earth Overshoot Day by 2050, moving it from Aug. 2 to Sept. 20\. None of these measures are easy; all of them are essential. Humans are a hungry and, too often, grasping species. Our earth is paying a very steep price for that. **_A version of this story also appears in the_** **Climate is Everything** **_newsletter. To sign up,_** [**_click here_**](https://cloud.newsletters.time.com/newsletters/?newsletter%5Fname=climate&source=onsite)**_._** ### More From TIME ## Transcript [00:00] It's hard to miss something that weighs 37 billion tons. [00:04] That's the amount of fossil fuel related. [00:08] Carbon dioxide humans release into the atmosphere every year. [00:12] The gas is entirely invisible until now [00:18] In a striking. [00:18] New video, NASA has revealed the release and circulation [00:22] of human produce carbon dioxide for the entirety of the Year. [00:26] 2021, scientists Drew their data partly from observations [00:32] made by weather satellites and partly by earth-based. [00:36] Monitoring of known greenhouse gas, emitters industrial [00:41] areas in the developed World in particular. [00:43] The most dramatic take away from the outsized role. [00:48] The Northern Hemisphere plays in the global spread of greenhouse [00:52] gases. Compared to the far less blameworthy South video, [00:57] unspools over the course of the year. [01:00] And it's not until June that the south is truly shrouded in [01:04] the north city missions. [01:06] Takes that long partly because the equator operates as an atmospheric [01:11] burner with hot air rising from the earth midline slowly north-south [01:17] circulation. Ultimately however, those billions of tons of carbon [01:21] dioxide blow past is natural stop sign and cover this house [01:26] as badly as the North. [01:29] In the first half of the year before they are obscured by CO2 [01:32] Australia Africa and South America appear to flicker on and off [01:37] from green to a neutral gray. [01:40] That represents plant life absorbing carbon dioxide during [01:44] the day and release unit in a sort of vegetable respiration [01:49] at night. [01:52] If there is any good news in, [01:54] both the data and the video, it's that not all of the CO2 tonnage [01:59] humans pour into the sky, stays there about half of the emissions [02:04] are taken by the land and the oceans, [02:06] which act, as carbon sinks in training greenhouse-gas [02:10] in preventing it from accelerating climate change, [02:13] even further. [02:15] The bad news is that there's at least another thirty seven [02:18] billion tons coming this year and next year, [02:21] and the year after that until humans break their fossil-fuel [02:26] habit. The planet will continue to choke on the results. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6300968/earth-overshoot-day-global-resources/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6300968/earth-overshoot-day-global-resources/"},"headline":"In Just 7 Months, the World Used an Entire Year's Worth of Planetary Resources","datePublished":"2023-08-02T20:04:18.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:51:01.855Z","description":"'Earth Overshoot Day' landed on August 2 this year—one more sign that we're using up earth's resources too quickly.","url":"https://time.com/6300968/earth-overshoot-day-global-resources/","keywords":["Environment","climate change","healthscienceclimate","Climate Is Everything"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Jeffrey Kluger","jobTitle":"Editor at Large","url":"https://time.com/author/jeffrey-kluger/"}],"articleSection":"Science","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/section/science/","name":"Science"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/tag/environment/","name":"Environment"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/6300968/earth-overshoot-day-global-resources/","name":"In Just 7 Months, the World Used an Entire Year's Worth of Planetary Resources"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Watch One Year Of Carbon Emissions Take Over The Planet","description":"It’s hard to miss something that weighs 37 billion tons—especially when it’s all around us. Thirty-seven billion tons is the amount of fossil-fuel-related carbon dioxide humans release into the atmosphere every year. We see the damage it does everywhere—from heat waves to floods to droughts to wildfires and more. But the CO2 itself? Entirely invisible. Until now.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/cBbZGKG0/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2023-06-29T14:34:54.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/cBbZGKG0.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/6300968/earth-overshoot-day-global-resources/","duration":"PT2M32S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/6300968/earth-overshoot-day-global-resources/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```