From tomorrow we live on credit at the expense of nature. Reducing the ecological debt is too slow

It is not unknown that preserved nature is extremely important for tourism. On the other hand, tourism - if managed well - can support nature conservation, while simultaneously contributing to sustainable development and providing income opportunities and a better quality of life for the local population.

Caring for natural heritage is essential for sustainable development and is the basis of socio-economic well-being. A more efficient and ecologically oriented form of tourism - ecotourism - is an important resource. It requires greater community participation in the management of natural resources and the development of indicators to monitor the impact of tourism on the environment and local communities.

However, people's awareness of the importance of nature conservation has just begun to awaken, and we are far from taking concrete steps in this direction, and time is running out.

Environmental Debt Day 

Environmental Debt Day marks the date when our annual demand and consumption of natural resources exceeds all that the Earth can produce or renew in an entire year.

This is happening because we are emitting more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than our oceans and forests can absorb, depleting fish stocks faster than they can be replenished, and cutting down forests before they can regrow. 

The consequences are extremely high heat waves, unstoppable forest fires, devastating floods and dramatic droughts, which are happening more and more frequently around the world. 

Life on credit

The Global Footprint Network calculates Environmental Debt Day each year using national footprint and biocapacity data. While August 2nd is the global Day of Ecological Debt, it entered our region much earlier.

First, they will arrive in Slovenia on April 18, Montenegro on May 13, Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina on May 29, North Macedonia on June 7, Serbia on July 8, and Albania on November 3. This means that we live on credit, depriving future generations of nature. 

"In less than eight months, humanity has used up the resources that the Earth has provided us for the entire year. In the last five years, the trend has slowed down slightly, but it is difficult to say how much of it is driven by the economic slowdown and how much is the result of decarbonization efforts. However, the reduction The day of environmental debt is too slow", he points out Petra Boić Petrač from WWF Adria. 

Achieving the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's IPCCR target of reducing global carbon emissions by 43 percent by 2030 (compared to 2019) would require moving Green Debt Day forward by 19 days each year over the next seven years.

There are solutions

There are solutions to reduce ecological overshoot and boost biological restoration, which could significantly move Ecological Debt Day forward. The Power of Possibility platform https://www.overshootday.org/power-of-possibility it showcases numerous technologies, government strategies, public policies, and best practices from civic initiatives and academia. 

Thus, a global increase in low-carbon electricity sources from the current 39 percent to 75 percent would advance this date by 26 days, a 50 percent reduction in food waste would gain 13 days, and an additional 2,1 days with planned replacement tree planting.

"This day is another reminder of how much we are overexploiting natural resources, leading to an ever-accelerating Earth's ecological and climate collapse. This is not only irresponsible, but extremely dangerous and requires immediate action. World leaders must also rely on their political power to would treat the existing ecological situation as urgent and pave the way to a sustainable future", concludes Boić Petrač. 

The recently passed Law on the Restoration of Nature is the right path, but now we are waiting for it to be completed and for its application to become mandatory. We are all responsible to take into account how important nature protection is and to support those for whom the implementation of this Act is a priority without an alternative.

Numerous tourists who come to the Adriatic beaches, islands or cities in the two summer months are the cause of enormous pressure on the natural resources of our region. In response, our protected areas are looking for new, commercially viable alternatives in the form of ecotourism, says WWF Adriatic.

Photo: Alain Audet/Pixabay, WWF Adria