Overshoot and the Path to Sustainability
Tony Noerpel � October 26, 2006
October 9, 2006 was World Overshoot Day, the day that occurs each year when
annual human consumption exceeds the Earth�s annual bioproductive
capacity. In 2006 by year�s end, we will have appropriated 130% of net
primary productivity.
Some of this productivity we used directly as farmland, woodlots or
fisheries. Some of the Earth�s primary productivity was lost to cities,
roads, strip mines, pollution, deforestation, ocean dead zones, global warming
and other human development. Some was required to sequester our fossil
fuel carbon emissions.
According to Lester Brown of Earth Policy Institute, this is the sixth year out
of the last seven that humanity failed to grow enough grain to feed the Earth�s
population. Some starved and some were fed from depleting grain stores,
which are now at their lowest level since the seventies. Our technology
can no longer feed our population.
We are unsustainably burning the candle at both ends. At the same time,
we are appropriating an increasing amount of the Earth�s bioproductivity every
year; we are reducing the Earth�s bioproductive capacity. We are clear
cutting forests, expanding deserts and blowing up perfectly good mountains for
the dirty coal underneath. Millions of acres of Alaskan spruce have been
lost in recent years to global warming induced bark beetle infestation.
Phytoplanktons are at risk from warmer and increasingly acidic oceans caused by
increased anthropogenic atmospheric carbon.
Americans are the Earth�s worst offenders. We consume the most resources,
require the most capital and generate the most waste. If the rest of
humanity lived as profligate as we do, we would require more than 5
Earths. It is simply not feasible.
There is a solution involving cooperation and effort at the international,
national and local levels.
First, if we cannot feed 6.5 billion people, we need to control our exponential
population growth. Italy has achieved negative growth so by existence proof, it
can be done.
Second, we need to conserve. We cannot afford to burn up fossil fuels and
uranium because of the load it places on the Earth�s climate and
chemistry. We are running out of the stuff anyway, so if we have to get
used to living without eventually, it makes sense to choose conservation on our
own terms. Europe and Japan use half of our energy without compromising
their quality of life, having higher life expectancies and lower infant
mortality rates than we do. And neither of these societies are paragons of
energy virtue. We again have proof by existence.
Third, we can harness solar energy directly via photovoltaic panels and
indirectly via wind powered generators. We can also tap into tidal and
geothermal energy. But none of these solutions can be brought on line
nearly as fast as conservation. All require build out and build out
requires energy and time.
Finally, we need to stop engaging in destructive behavior like waging pointless
wars, blowing up mountains, stripping land, burning forests, over fishing the
oceans, badly altering the chemistry of both our atmosphere and our oceans, and
compromising our small stock of fresh water. The good news is we already
know how to do all of these things. Though it would be nice, no speculative
futuristic and untried technology is required. All that we need is the
will and courage. We can do this.
These solutions require international and national cooperation and
commitment. But most countries ratified the Montreal Protocols designed
to reduce the size of the ozone hole and most ratified the Kyoto Protocols to
reduce global warming. Only the United States and Australia and a few
other nations remain holdouts from Kyoto.
We do not have to wait for responsible leadership to appear in
Washington. Local efforts can pay off. All over America, local
municipalities are endorsing the U. S. Mayor�s Climate Protection Agreement,
including Williamsburg, Richmond, Alexandria, Virginia Beach and Charlottesville.
There are even economic measures we all can adapt in our own lives to reduce
our carbon footprint.
On November 9, 2006, Chesapeake Climate Action Network and the Loudoun County
Committee for a Sustainable Society in cooperation with the Sierra Club, Coal
River Mountain Watch, the Virginia League of Conservation Voters, the
Progressive Action League, and George Washington University will host four
environmental and energy experts, author Mike Tidwell, energy columnist Tom
Whipple, renewable energy experts Charlie Garlow and Grady O�Rear.
Accepting the reality of global warming, environmental degradation and the
energy crises, the panel will focus on solutions at the local level. The event
takes place at George Washington University � Virginia Campus in Ashburn at 7
PM. Admission is free and the public is invited.
Tony Noerpel
Founder Loudoun County Committee for a Sustainable Society
[email protected]
540-882-3289 (night)
301-601-7449 (day)
[email protected]
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NoVa Climate
Change Summit
Nov. 9, Thursday, 7 PM
George Washington University, Virginia Campus, Ashburn
where leaders, citizens, activists and experts meet
to discuss energy issues that are affecting our region
free and open to the public
Guest Speakers: Mike Tidwell, Tom Whipple, Charlie Garlow, Grady
O�Rear
www.lccss.org/NVCCS
You are invited to the program which
will feature engaging presentations from each of the 4 guest speakers, followed
by statements from local elected officials and a moderated Q&A session.
Doors open at 7; presentations begin at 7:30.
Mike Tidwell: author, founder of CCAN:
Keynote Address
Author, filmmaker and activist Mike
Tidwell has been active inD.C.-area environmental causes for more than a
decade. Mike's documentary film - "We Are All Smith Islanders" -
details the dangers and solutions associated with global warming in Maryland
,Virginia, and D.C. In 2002, Mike founded and now directs the Chesapeake
Climate Action Network (CCAN) www.chesapeakeclimate.org a grassroots nonprofit dedicated to fighting global
warming in the region through the promotion of clean, renewable energy. Toward
this end, Mike's pioneering home in Takoma Park is fueled almost entirely by
wind, solar and corn power, and is regularly opened to the public as a
community laboratory.
Tom Whipple: national energy expert, columnist: Energy
For the last 2 years Tom has been following the evidence for and against
peak oil on a daily basis. He is currently writing a weekly a column for the
Fall Church, Virginia newspaper discussing the peak oil situation and its
implications. He also publishes a daily newsletter on Peak Oil developments and
is the author of the recently established Association for the Study of Peak Oil
(ASPO) USA weekly newsletter. ASPO www.peakoil.net
is a worldwide network of scientists having an interest in determining the date
and impact of the peak and decline of the world's production of oil and gas,
due to resource constraints.
Charlie Garlow: renewable technologies; state and county-wide solutions
Charlie Garlow is an Attorney/Advisor in the Air Enforcement Division of th
EPA, where he has served as the air toxics expert since 1987. Other duties
include national coordination of the Stratospheric Ozone enforcement program,
emissions trading programs, acid rain enforcement, citizen enforcement
coordination and criteria pollutant enforcement efforts [NSPS, SIPs,
NSR]. Garlow is a long time clean energy activist with the Sierra Club,
the Potomac Regional Solar Energy Association, the Virginia Solar Council, the
Electric Vehicle Association of Greater DC and others.
Grady O'Rear: founder Ecovillage: local homeowner solutions
Mr O'Rear is President of Green Advantage, Inc. a non-profit organization
that, through education and research, advances sustainable development
practices www.greenadvantage.org
. He is also the developer of EcoVillage of Loudoun County, Virginia, an
environmentally friendly, socially responsive community 40 miles northwest of
Washington, D.C. www.ecovillages.com
__________________________________
Event Location: George Washington University, Virginia Campus, 20101
Academic Way, Ashburn, VA.
- located off of Route 7, one mile west of Route 28, five miles north of Dulles
International Airport, 12 miles west of Tysons Corner, and eight miles east of
historic Leesburg) see http://www.gwvirginia.gwu.edu/visitor/location.html
for map.
Event Sponsors:
George Washington University, Virginia Campus www.gwvirginia.gwu.edu
CCAN Chesapeake Climate Action Network www.chesapeakeclimate.org
LCCSS Loudoun County Committee for a Sustainable Society www.lccss.org
Sierra Club/Great Falls Group virginia.sierraclub.org/greatfalls
CRMW Coal River Mountain Watch www.crmw.net
VALCV Virginia League of
Conservation Voters www.valcv.org
PALS Progressive Action League www.palnova.net
For more information, please contact Tony
Noerpel, 540.882.3289 [email protected],
or Terri Glass [email protected].
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