Today, 24 July 2025, is the day when humanity has again crossed the border. The Earth Orshoot Day Day is coming, a date that symbolizes that we have exhausted all natural resources and ecosystem services that our planet can restore and provide in less than seven months.
From that moment on, we live on debt, draw from the Earth’s supplies and damage its ability to regenerate. This date is calculated by the organization and serves as an urgent reminder that our consumption significantly exceeds the planet’s regenerative capacity.
Miroslava Plassmann, director of WWF Slovakia, in an interview for news, explained:
– what day of the ecological debt symbolizes and what its immediate and long -term consequences are;
– which sectors of our economy and companies have the largest share of Slovak ecological debt;
– What three most effective measures would it introduce in Slovakia to postpone the date of the day of the ecological debt.
How would you explain the lay public as easily as possible what exactly the day of the ecological debt symbolizes and what is its immediate, but also long -term consequences for Slovakia and the world?
The day of the ecological debt is a symbolic milestone that shows when humanity consumes all natural resources that the planet is able to recover in one year. From this day to the end of the year we live “on ecological debt” – we draw more than nature can provide in a year.
This debt has real consequences – it leads to the loss of forests, soil, fresh water, the loss of biodiversity and the deterioration of the climate crisis. In practice, this means more often extreme weather fluctuations, a higher susceptibility to dry or flooding, food safety problems and increased costs to manage the consequences of environmental damage.
What is your opinion on ecological debt? For many he is alarming, others ignore it…
Ecological debt is a serious warning. It is not just an abstract concept – its consequences are seen in everyday problems: dry, extreme heat, loss of crops, decline in biodiversity. At the same time, it is a tool that communicates clearly about excessive consumption, that is, that we consume more than we are available.
Ignoring this fact is like ignoring the warning light in the car – the problem does not change, just worsens.
Slovakia, as part of the European Union and the developed world, contributes to this global problem. Which sectors of our economy and companies do you think they have the largest share in Slovak ecological debt and where do you see the greatest potential for its reduction?
Slovakia, like most developed countries, has long lived above its ecological possibilities. This is also confirmed by the fact that the day of the ecological debt of Slovakia in 2025 fell on the 10th. May, which is one of the countries with the highest consumption of natural resources in their availability. It is even 6 days earlier than last year when the inhabitants of Slovakia. This means that if all people on Earth lived as an average Slovak resident, we would need almost two planet Earth to cover our consumption.
Sectors of energy, transport, food production and the use of the country – especially forest and agricultural management – have the largest share in our environmental debt.
It is positive that it is in these areas that we have the greatest potential for change. Measures such as the transition to renewable energy sources, modernization of public transport, improving the energy efficiency of buildings or supporting the nature of a close forestry could significantly reduce our environmental trace.
How the worldwide day of organic debt fits into a wider image of the environmental challenges we face? Is it just one of many indicators or a central point that results in all other problems?
The day of ecological debt is not the only environmental indicator, but it is a very strong symbol – because it combines several crises into one date. It shows that our consumption exceeds what nature can give us sustainably. In fact, it points to the source of most environmental problems, from climate change through the loss of biodiversity to soil and water exhaustion. All these problems have a common denominator – the unsustainable way we live, produce and consume.
WWF Living Planet Report 2024 confirms that wildlife populations have fallen by an average of 73 %over the past 50 years, which means a fundamental loss of ecosystems. The greatest loss was recorded by freshwater species – up to 85 %.
However, this day is not only a warning, but also a challenge: to start living in balance with what the planet can offer us.
Despite constant warnings, Earth Orshoot comes every year earlier or stagnant at an alarming level. What prevents more radical changes at the level of policy, industry and individual consumption? Do you see specific obstacles? And how could they overcome?
This is the right and difficult question. Despite the fact that each of us wants to drink clean water, breathe clean air and eat quality food, environmental issues are still not a political priority. For example, today we have a chance to draw EU resources for the restoration of nature and natural resources, protecting biodiversity – unfortunately we do not use this chance and are still considering reducing the area of our pride of national parks.
Slovakia in this respect is not only a passive follower of trends, but – unfortunately – increasingly – increasingly an active negative voice in the EU, which promotes measures to weaken nature protection. We are currently watching this, for example, to reduce wolf protection.
A better environment for all of us can only be achieved by combining legislative reforms, public investments, supporting ecological measures and technologies in industry and intensive communication with the public. WWF Slovakia represents citizens and actively monitors and comments proposals that damage the environment.
WWF Slovakia is actively involved in nature conservation. What specific projects and initiatives contribute to the reduction of our ecological fingerprint and how can an ordinary citizen be involved?
WWF Slovensko has long been seeking to reduce the ecological trace through specific field projects as well as professional enforcement of systemic changes. Our vision is a country where man lives in harmony with nature.
Our main priorities in Slovakia include mainly protection of forests, waters, large beasts and support for biodiversity.For example, within the Living Rivers project, we support measures to increase the country’s ability to retain water, revive and restore our rivers. In the project LECA in cooperation with the National Park Slovak Karst and other partners, we monitor the occurrence and interaction of beasts with man, while testing preventive measures to protect livestock in practice.
Please note that the full -area shooting of the beast is not a solution and preventive measures should be supported. In the field of forest protection, we support the protection of forests and natural forests, support for FSC certification and also promoting nature close to forest management. Interesting activities include support for butterflies and other pollinators, which we implement in cooperation with the German Foundation Bodensee Stiftung. Targeted care for vegetation of road slopes, as well as cooperation with farmers, we improve the quality of selected meadow plots, thus helping pollinating insects, including rare types of butterflies and bees.
All our activities arebuilt on dialogue and partnerships. We believe that only by combining forces – professional, public and civil – we can provide healthy ecosystems and the future that will be safe for both people and nature.
If you could immediately introduce three most effective measures in Slovakia that would significantly shift the date of the ecological debt day back, what would it be and why these?
It is not easy to name just three miraculous solutions that would get us back to ecological security. In fact, it is a connected system in which individuals, businesses and politicians play the role. However, one of the most important measures that may have a significant impact concerns the food system.
According to WWF, the way we produce and consume food is the largest engine of losing biodiversity in the world. Food production uses up to 40 % of habitable soil, consumes 70 % of fresh water and causes more than a quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, we need to support sustainable, local agriculture, reduce intensive animal production and gradually change our eating habits.
Another key step is the strong nature protection legislation, support for the protection and renewal of river flows, water resources and forests.
However, no measure will be effective without cooperation. Shift to a sustainable future requires joint efforts of the state, the public, industry and non -governmental organizations. And at the same time willingness to change some of our established customs. The good news is that the solutions exist.
