The scenario we have chosen for this exercise is Earth Overshoot Day, an international initiative that marks the date when humanity’s demand for ecological resources (fish and forests, and other natural resources) and services in a given year exceeds what the Earth can regenerate in that year. There is an international Overshoot Day (in 2019 it was on the 29 of July -- the earliest day recorded since the project began 20 years ago). Moreover, each country has its own Overshoot Day based on local factors. The calculations come from the Global Footprint Network. The Ecological Footprint adds up all of people’s competing demands for biologically productive areas – food, timber, fibers, carbon sequestration, and accommodation of infrastructure. Currently, carbon emissions from burning fossil fuel comprise 60% of humanity’s Ecological Footprint. When this initiative started in 2006, the Overshoot Day fell in October.

In this design sprint your task is to work as an individual or in small teams with your peers to come up with initiatives/solutions to #movethedate at a later time during the year. There are several steps you can take as an individual, for example, by using public transport or carpooling, reducing your consumption of meat, or streamlining your wardrobe. However, for this scenario you will work on the steps that institutions and organisations in the creative and cultural sector need to take to contribute towards #movethedate. We will give you more details in the following pages.   

References

• Earth Overshoot Day (Official) https://www.overshootday.org/newsroom/country-overshoot-days/ 

• Calculate your Ecological Footprint http://www.footprintcalculator.org/

• Earth Overshoot Day 2018 https://youtu.be/jgbY79Opn34