That’s it. Between January 1 and this Wednesday, May 7, 2025, Switzerland used as many resources as the planet can regenerate in a year. On the day of overcoming, as it is called, occurs 20 days earlier than last year. “If all of humanity lived like the Swiss, we would need natural resources of 2.87 planets earth,” alerts WWF.
The NGO points out the airline industry, whose emissions, increasing, rose to 15.2 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2023. That year, the sector found first place on the scale of the largest greenhouse gas emitters, in front of road traffic, whose figures stagnate. Its impact soar, finding the levels before the covid pandemic.
For Swiss WWF, political measures are necessary. The organization requires an increase in the CO2 incentive tax taken from fossil fuels, as well as support for the use of renewable energies and the sanitation of buildings. She still notes positive developments: “Heating and industry emissions have dropped slightly due to the increase in energy prices.”
“In addition, since February we are waiting for the Federal Council’s framework document on the legislation relating to the climate for the period from 2030. The orientations sketched there are of paramount importance,” added the press release. Switzerland wants to end the greenhouse gases by 2050.
In the meantime, individuals can also make their contribution, in order to postpone as much as possible the date of the next “Overshoot Day”. “We recommend above all to replace one or the other flight by plane with vacation in places less distant from home,” said Damian Oettli, manager of WWF Switzerland. In addition to favoring public transport and cycling, the population is invited to choose a vegetarian menu more often and to replace Mazout and gas heaters with technologies that spare resources.
