We may only be eight months into 2017, but humanity has already used up its annual allowance of planetary resources.

A shocking report has shown that today is Earth Overshoot Day – the day in which humanity has overspent its water, soil and clean air allowance for the year.

Environmental groups are urging people to do their bit to prevent this overshoot from happening again, by eating less meat, burning less fuel and cutting back on food waste.

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A shocking report has shown that today is Earth Overshoot Day – the day in which humanity has overspent its water, soil and clean air allowance for the year

OVERUSE OF RESOURCES The annual landmark highlights the point at which one year's worth of natural resources have been used up - where human demand for ecological resources exceed what Earth can regenerate in a year. Campaigners say that carbon dioxide emissions are outstripping what forests and oceans can absorb, and the planet is unable to keep up with the rate of fishing and deforestation. Environmentalists have warned the problem is worsening, with the planet sliding into 'ecological debt' earlier and earlier. Advertisement

WWF and the Global Footprint Network announced that Earth Overshoot was today – the earliest it has ever been.

It means humanity will be living on 'credit' for the rest of the year.

In a statement, the groups said: 'By August 2, 2017, we will have used more from nature than our planet can renew in the whole year.

'This means that in seven months, we emitted more carbon than the oceans and forests can absorb in a year, we caught more fish, felled more trees, harvested more, and consumed more water than the Earth was able to produce in the same period.'

The equivalent of 1.7 planets would be required to produce enough to meet humanity's needs at current consumption rates.

Calculated since 1986, the grim milestone has arrived earlier each year.

In 1993, it fell on October 21, in 2003 on September 22, and in 2015 on August 13.

Greenhouse gas emissions from burning coal, oil and gas make up 60 per cent of mankind's ecological 'footprint' on the planet, said the groups.

The equivalent of 1.7 planets would be required to produce enough to meet humanity's needs at current consumption rates

But there was some good news.

While coming earlier every year, the advance of Earth Overshoot Day has slowed down, said the statement.

Individuals can contribute to stopping, and eventually reversing, the trend by eating less meat, burning less fuel, and cut back on food waste, said the report.

The Global Footprint Network has also released an app that allows users to measure their own demand on nature and assess their personal Earth Overshoot Day.

The app allows users to play with options, learn about solutions, and connect to brief facts about sustainability.

Mathis Wackernagel, CEO of Global Footprint Network, said: 'Our planet is finite, but human possibilities are not.

In seven months, we emitted more carbon than the oceans and forests can absorb in a year, we caught more fish, felled more trees (stock image), harvested more, and consumed more water than the Earth was able to produce in the same period

'Living within the means of one planet is technologically possible, financially beneficial, and our only chance for a prosperous future.

'We hope our new Footprint Calculator enables millions more people around the world to explore sustainability solutions and gain an uplifting sense of the possibilities available to society.'