Germany exhausts annual share of natural resources by May

Germany will by May 10 have already used up the natural resources that should theoretically have lasted the country for the entire year, according to ecological researchers from the Global Footprint Network.

The organisation calculates Earth Overshoot Day each year for individual countries and for the planet as a whole, measuring when humanity’s demand for ecological resources exceeds what Earth can regenerate within a year, dpa reports. 

Researchers said that if everyone in the world consumed resources and emitted carbon dioxide at the same rate as Germany, the Earth’s annual biocapacity would be depleted within the first third of the year.

According to the German Association for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND), Germany continues to consume excessive amounts of natural resources, mainly because of its high reliance on fossil fuels.

The group identified energy-intensive industries, the construction sector, road transport and industrial livestock farming as the main contributors to environmental pressure. It added that the effects are already visible through droughts, heavy rainfall and increasing heat in urban areas.

“Our current lifestyle and economic model are not sustainable,” said BUND chairman Olaf Bandt. “Instead of switching to renewables, we continue to rely on coal, oil and gas.”

Bandt said renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, along with heat pumps and efficient electric vehicles, could improve energy independence while strengthening climate protection.

Germany’s Earth Overshoot Day in 2025 fell on May 3, one week earlier than this year’s date. Researchers said the difference does not necessarily indicate a change in environmental behavior, but was largely the result of updated data and revised calculation methods.

Globally, Earth Overshoot Day for 2026 is expected to fall in late July, similar to last year.

The official global date will be announced by the Global Footprint Network on World Environment Day, observed annually on June 5.

By Sabina Mammadli