For the sixth consecutive year, Chile ranks as the first country in Latin America to reach ecological overshoot, which means that in the first months of the year it has already exhausted the natural resources that the Earth can regenerate in that period.
This phenomenon, identified by the Global Footprint Network organization through its Earth Overshoot Day platform, shows that Chile is using resources at a faster rate than the planet can replenish, generating an environmental debt for future generations.
“If the entire world population had the consumption and pollution levels of Chile, the demand for natural resources would exceed the planet’s regenerative capacity for the remainder of the year,” warn environmental experts.
Factors driving the advance of ecological overshoot
This year, the date advanced six days compared to 2024 —from the 23rd to the 17th of May— due to three environmental crises in the country:
- Climate change, aggravating desertification and water scarcity.
- Biodiversity loss, with ecosystems increasingly affected by human activities.
- Plastic pollution, with inadequate waste management and excessive use of disposable packaging.
“If we do not reverse these trends, each year we will see this date advance further,” warn specialists.
Proposals to mitigate environmental impact
Environmental organizations urge the Chilean Government to:
- Strengthen the Decarbonization Plan, with concrete deadlines to eliminate coal before 2030.
- Create a Coastal Law to ensure the protection of coastal territories and their ecosystems.
- Implement regulation of single-use plastics, whose enforcement, initially planned for August 2024, was postponed by 18 months.
Furthermore, they criticize the Coastal Border Management and Maritime Concessions Project, stating that it favors the privatization of natural spaces.
Chile and the urgency of a sustainable transformation
Although Chile has made efforts in environmental matters, experts emphasize the need for more decisive actions to prevent the country from continuing to lead ecological overshoot in the region.
“It is crucial to harmonize policies, strengthen commitments, and eradicate practices that negatively impact ecosystems,” conclude conservation specialists.
Chile’s situation is a wake-up call for the world, which must prioritize sustainable development and responsible management of natural resources.
