December 19, 1987 marks the first day that humankind began living beyond its means and created a deficit for that year. Every year since 1987, humankind has had an ecological overshoot, or used more resources than the biosphere can regenerate, with the new yearly ecological deficit date occurring in September. Simultaneously, as ecological overshoot is occurring, the human population is continuing to climb. If humankind cannot contain its population within Earth s carrying capacity, natural law or Mother Nature will be forced do so through starvation, disease, and death. Currently, humans are far from achieving the goal of sustainable use of the planet and are moving further away from this goal each day. In order to protect the planet, individuals and nations to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions and reduce their carbon footprint.