Earth Overshoot Day marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources and services in a given year exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that year. COVID-19 has caused humanity's Ecological Footprint to contract, pushing the date of Earth Overshoot Day back more than three weeks compared to last year. The challenge of relaunching our economies presents countries with a unique chance to act on the future we want. On 20 August 2020 at 9:00 am CEST, the audience may join The Club of Rome and Global Footprint Network for an engaging online session streamed live on YouTube. (Scroll down this page to access the live-stream directly.)

This public event will combine live engagement with video messages from ‘green champions’ throughout Europe and will bring to life what it means in practice to 'build back better' post-COVID. Mathis Wackernagel (President of the Global Footprint Network) will kick off the Earth Overshoot Day campaign in Europe ahead of the global Earth Overshoot Day, which falls on Saturday 22 August this year.

On this occasion, The Club of Rome and Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) will present an updated Planetary Emergency Plan, making the case that the pandemic has highlighted our fragility and the profound links between disease, nature, climate and emissions, equity and justice, the finance sector and food systems.

The audience will have the opportunity to ask questions to our panelists throughout the event via the live chat box. For any remaining questions, there is time allocated for a short Q&A at the end of the programme.

Programme

European Launch Earth Overshoot Day (9:00h am CEST):

• Mathis Wackernagel, President of the Global Footprint Network
• Pavan Sukdhev, President of WWF International & Marco Lambertini, Director General of WWF International (video)

Presentation Planetary Emergency Plan 2.0:

• Johan Rockström, Director of the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research
• Sandrine Dixson-Declève, Co-President of The Club of Rome

High Level Reflections – Planetary Emergency Plan in Practice:

1. On policy implications:

• Minister Teresa Ribera, Vice-President of Government and Minister of Ecological Transition of Spain: working towards a green transition and recovery for Spain (video)
• Marieke van Doorninck, Deputy-Mayor of Amsterdam: implementing Doughnut Economics in Amsterdam (video)
• Mauro Petriccione, Director General for Climate Action, European Commission: European Green Deal (video)
• Kurt Vandenberghe, European Green Deal Advisor, Cabinet of the President of the European Commission: towards a green, just and resilient European recovery post-COVID
• Terry A’Hearn, CEO of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency: towards COP26 in Glasgow and a successful Decade of Action

2. On the role of youth:

• Adélaïde Charlier, Co-Founder Youth for Climate Belgium (video)
• Marie-Claire Graf, Vice-President of Swiss Youth for Climate (video)
• Leonie Bremer: Fridays for Future Germany (video)

3. On business and innovation:

• Frank Niederländer, Member of the BMW Foundation Herbert Quandt Board (live)
• Bertrand Piccard, Initiator and Chairman of the Solar Impulse Foundation (live)

Q&A and Closing Reflections (9:50-10:00h am CEST)

Klick on the video below to access the live-stream: