Judith Russenberger

Counting on … 175

29th October 2025

Private jets -2

For climate activists there are three clear reasons for wishing to ban private jets.

On a per passenger basis they are the most polluting mode of transport
Private jets represent a most unequal form of transport. They are the domain of a small elite – whilst 80% of the world’s population have never flown. (There are about 22,000 to 23,000 private jets worldwide).
They are a wasteful and unsustainable mode of transport, carrying a small number of passengers, flying short distances, making them fuel-inefficient. (1)

As a status item, with a growing wealthy elite in not just Europe and North America but globally, there is the potential risk that private jet use and ownership will rise, increasing their impact on the environment.

“In recent years, the private aviation market has experienced unprecedented growth. Once seen as a luxury reserved for billionaires and celebrities, private jets are now becoming a practical choice for entrepreneurs, corporations, and even affluent families. The reasons behind this surge are multifaceted—ranging from convenience and privacy to safety and efficiency” !! (2)

In the UK (second most frequent private jet flyer after the USA) flights in private jets have increased fourfold between 2020 and 2022 – from 19,000 to 90,000 flights a year.

You can sign Greenpeace’s petition calling for a ban on private jets here:

https://action.greenpeace.org.uk/e/854853/etsLeadGenPE20230331-utm-term-/5txbn3/2827246452/h/LtGGnZlkzDS-QRLiFqU2jVEm1XIDnrJezh3SY2Tgi7U

Counting on … 174

28th October 2025

Private Jets -1

The International Council of Clean Transport report on greenhouse gas pollution found that private jets accounted for only 2%-4% of annual aviation emissions. (1) Are private jets as a sub sector of the aviation industry worth targeting?

Would limiting (eg by higher taxation) or banning private jets be a popular move for a government? Are the people who fly in private jets people a significant group within the electorate?

Are those who can afford private jets, also paying large amounts in tax – or are private jets tax deductible?

Are they movers and shakers in driving the economy and creating jobs?

Does the private jet industry itself create a significant number of jobs?

The current Labour government has increased air passenger duty (APD) which includes ordinary commercial flights and flights on private jets. The tax on the latter is increasing by 50% such that the most expensive rate for private jet flyers will increase from £607 to £673 in 2025, reaching £1,141 per passenger by April 2026.

“Those individuals who travel in larger more luxurious private jets may see a bigger increase,” the government said. “The additional increase to the higher rates ensures that APD costs as a proportion of the hiring costs for private jets are more in line with APD on commercial airlines as a proportion of airfares. The increase to the higher rate will ensure that users of private jets continue to make a fair contribution to the public finances.” (2)

Will this be sufficient to curb private jet flights?

The Green Party has proposed “a ban on all private jets taking off or landing at UK airports. They say this form of transportation, favoured by a super-rich elite, is the ultimate symbol of ‘climate inequality’ where the richest 1% of the population produce as much planet warming pollution each year as 5 billion people making up the poorest two-thirds of the global population.” (3)

(1) https://theicct.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/ID-349-–-Private-jets_report_final.pdf

(2) https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/budget-2024-private-jet-tax-rise-b2638927.html

(3) https://greenparty.org.uk/2023/11/28/green-party-calls-for-ban-on-private-jets-the-ultimate-symbol-of-climate-inequality/

Information on campaign groups opposing private jets

Campaigns

https://action.greenpeace.org.uk/ban-private-jets

Climate activists blockade Farnborough private jet airport’s three main gates

Counting on … 173

27th October 2025

A good example of the link between high income consumers and high carbon footprints, is air travel. Aviation accounts for 2.5% of global CO2 emissions (2) yet in anyone year only 5-10% of the world’s population boards a plane. And even within that minority who do fly, most of the flights are undertaken by an even smaller percentage of frequent flyers. In the UK (a country producing the third highest level of air flight emissions after the US and China) 70% of flights are taken by just 15% of the population. (1)

Does it have to be this way?

No – there are alternatives to air travel. Rail travel has a significantly smaller carbon footprint, and for travel within Europe and potentially across other continents, is practical mode of transport. However current investment plans and tax/ subsidy policies favour air travel over rail.

Government policies could start with the premise that the number of air flights needs to be reduced (or at the least kept at current levels). Shaping policies around that would include developing alternative modes of transport for people and goods, enabling manufactures to adapt to different transport network, encouraging different models of tourism.

For information on flight free travel – https://flightfree.co.uk/

Green Tau: Issue 119

26th October 2025

How Will We Make Polluters Pay?

A few days before Christmas 2021 – and very late on in the the typhoon season – super typhoon Odette slammed into the Philippines. This was category 5 tropical cyclone with combined high winds in excess of 175 mph, extreme rainfall and a storm surge. Devastating the lives of 8 million people across 514 towns and cities, it brought down power cables and trees, broke up roads and fishing boats, disrupted communications and water supplies, destroyed or damages 1.4 million homes and 2000 schools, destroyed crops and livelihoods, and killed over 400 hundred people.

Research has shown that the extreme rainfall recorded was twice as likely due to anthropogenic climate change, and the extreme winds 70% more likely for the same reason. (1) At the time, it was the second most costliest typhoon. To hit the Philippines causing damage of nearly $1 billion.

67 survivors of Typhoon Odette from several Philippine communities whose family members were killed or whose homes were destroyed are now preparing to sue Shell. The first stage of this has been the issuing of a Letter Before Action (LBA) which has been sent to Shell notifying them that the claimants, having suffered severe losses including damage to,property, personal,injury, bereavement, loss of earnings and loss of cultural rights. The claim all edges that Shell has contributed materially and knowingly to anthropogenic climate change, and therefore contributed in no small way to the damage suffered by the claimants.

The claim is being brought in the UK as that is where Shell is domiciled but will apply the law of the Philippines as that is where the damaged occurred The claimants are being represented by the London law firm Hausfeld LLP. If no agreement is reached between Shell and the Philippine claimants, then a law suit will be filed, probably in December. “The case seeks to hold Shell accountable to our Filipino clients. By proving in court that Shell was at fault for this climate change-driven extreme weather event and the suffering it caused, the case highlights the far-reaching and direct impacts on vulnerable communities worldwide of oil and gas company activities,” said Greg Lascelles, partner at the law firm Hausfeld and leader of the legal team. (2)

The Philippines Commission on Human Rights spent 7 years investigating the impact of anthropogenic climate change on the people of the Philippines in response to an initial petition made by survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in 2013. Published in 2022 their report concluded “that the world’s most polluting companies are morally and legally liable for the impacts of the climate crisis because they have engaged in wilful obfuscation of climate science and obstructed efforts towards a global transition to clean energy.” (3)

Only last month did ten thousand people take part in a march through central London for the Make Them Pay rally, calling for action to make polluters pay. Both Christian Climate Action and Green Christian were there as part of the faith block. The case being brought by the survivors of Typhoon Odette is one of a now growing number of legal actions being taken against fossil fuel giants, as campaigners press for climate justice. This case is being supported by various groups including Uplift, Greenpeace, Fossil Free London and Christian Climate Action. Last Thursday Fossil Free London lined up blue boiler-suited activists in front of Shell’s headquarters and, with flags and banners and songs, launched their support for the Typhoon Odette claimants. Whilst the claimants would have liked to address us directly, their request for visas had been turned down, so instead we listened to a recorded message.

If you wish to support this case, you can find out more here, including a petition:-

https://www.odettecase.org/take-action

(1) https://egusphere.copernicus.org/preprints/2025/egusphere-2025-665/

(2) https://www.hausfeld.com/en-gb/news/shell-hit-with-legal-action-over-climate-damages-by-typhoon-odette-survivors

(3) https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/06/filipino-inquiry-finds-big-polluters-morally-and-legally-liable-for-climate-damage?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Proper 25

26th October 2025

Reflection with readings below

The first part of the Book of Joel (which we don’t hear today’s reading) tells of repeated plagues of locust that have destroyed the people’s crops. And of an invasion by foreign forces that has devastated the land, uprooting trees and vines so that there has been nothing to harvest. And of a drought that has caused trees and crops to shrivel and the field to lie in ruin. A severe drought such that the rivers have dried up and wildfires have burnt the grass leaving the animals to waste away. Even the heavens have been troubled with solar and lunar eclipses darkening the sky. And so the priests and ministers of God had called for the people to look hard at themselves and their conduct, to acknowledge where they had done wrong – where they had gone against God – and to repent and seek God’s mercy.

But where all was destruction and anguish, today’s reading is full of encouragement and optimism. Joel speaks of a time to come when again there will be fruitfulness and flourishing, a time of plenty and of contentment. Joel knows how much the people are loved by God. He knows that God will not abandon the people but will show them mercy – a word that can be understood as loving kindness. And more specifically Joel tells the people that God will pour out God’s own spirit on them – they will be blessed!

The Psalmist writes with the same confidence, assuring God’s people that God does forgive our sins, that God does heal and restore us when we have made mistakes, that God does intend for us to live lives of peace and plenty, and that God does envisage a world where all of creation lives together in harmony and joyfulness.

And who wouldn’t want to live in such a world?

Why then do we humans continue to the things that are wrong, that are destructive, that are unjust? Why do we pollute the atmosphere with excessive amounts of carbon dioxide? Why do we plunder the land destroying forests and draining the soil of its nutrients? Why do we let a select few enjoy excessive riches whilst standing by as the poorest and most vulnerable of our kin suffer hunger and illness and oppression?

Is it that we do not see ourselves as those who pollute and plunder and oppress? Do we look in the mirror and instead see ourselves as successful, as those able to look after our own families, as those who have been provident in ensuring a comfortable life for ourselves, as those who, being self sufficient, deservedly have access to quality health care and education, fresh food and overseas holidays? Do we see ourselves as those who have worked hard and wisely and have received no less than we deserve? Of course we give to charity. Of course we pay our taxes. Of course we go to church. We’re not heartless. Yes we do know that there are others less fortunate but they probably didn’t work hard enough. They sadly don’t live in a safe country – but that’s not our fault. Maybe they don’t live in a wealthy country – but again that’s not our fault. Maybe they didn’t benefit from a good education or health care system – but that’s probably because their government is corrupt. Maybe it’s because they live in countries where storms and floods are common place, where heat waves and droughts have become more extreme.

Surely none of this can be our fault?

Well maybe yes; maybe in part. For even if it is not our personal fault, it is likely the fault of the systems within which we live – and from which we have benefited. Like the people Joel was addressing, we need to look at ourselves, our behaviour and the way our economies and society work, to acknowledge where they have gone wrong – where they had gone against God’s will – and to repent and seek God’s mercy. For if we find better ways of living, fairer systems of sharing and consuming resources, more equitable ways of meeting everyone’s needs, then as Joel envisaged, we can all live lives of fruitfulness and flourishing, of plenty and of contentment.

When we hear today”s parable we know that Jesus is calling us not to be like the self-satisfied, self-justifying figure. Rather Jesus wants us to seeking the satisfaction of all, and to be reliant on God’s loving kindness and wisdom. As Jesus’s followers we are called to this task of seeking out God’s will – finding the better ways of living together. We are called to call out injustice and to seek restitution for those affected. We are called to speak truth to those in power and challenge those who manipulate the truth. We are called to set an example by living lives that are not motivated by greed but by the desire to live lives that are fair and sustainable.

We are Jesus’s agents for change.

Joel 2:23-32

O children of Zion, be glad
and rejoice in the Lord your God;

for he has given the early rain for your vindication,
he has poured down for you abundant rain,
the early and the later rain, as before.

The threshing floors shall be full of grain,
the vats shall overflow with wine and oil.

I will repay you for the years
that the swarming locust has eaten,

the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter,
my great army, which I sent against you.

You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
and praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has dealt wondrously with you.

And my people shall never again be put to shame.

You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
and that I, the Lord, am your God and there is no other.

And my people shall never again
be put to shame.

Then afterward
I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;

your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
your old men shall dream dreams,
and your young men shall see visions.

Even on the male and female slaves,
in those days, I will pour out my spirit.

I will show portents in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and columns of smoke. The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and terrible day of the Lord comes. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved; for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.

Psalm 65

1 You are to be praised, O God, in Zion; *
to you shall vows be performed in Jerusalem.

2 To you that hear prayer shall all flesh come, *
because of their transgressions.

3 Our sins are stronger than we are, *
but you will blot them out.

4 Happy are they whom you choose
and draw to your courts to dwell there! *
they will be satisfied by the beauty of your house,
by the holiness of your temple.

5 Awesome things will you show us in your righteousness,
O God of our salvation, *
O Hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the seas that are far away.

6 You make fast the mountains by your power; *
they are girded about with might.

7 You still the roaring of the seas, *
the roaring of their waves,
and the clamour of the peoples.

8 Those who dwell at the ends of the earth will tremble at your marvellous signs; *
you make the dawn and the dusk to sing for joy.

9 You visit the earth and water it abundantly;
you make it very plenteous; *
the river of God is full of water.

10 You prepare the grain, *
for so you provide for the earth.

11 You drench the furrows and smooth out the ridges; *
with heavy rain you soften the ground and bless its increase.

12 You crown the year with your goodness, *
and your paths overflow with plenty.

13 May the fields of the wilderness be rich for grazing, *
and the hills be clothed with joy.

14 May the meadows cover themselves with flocks,
and the valleys cloak themselves with grain; *
let them shout for joy and sing.

2 Timothy 4:6-8,16-18

I am already being poured out as a libation, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

At my first defence no one came to my support, but all deserted me. May it not be counted against them! But the Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and save me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Luke 18:9-14

Jesus told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and regarded others with contempt: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, `God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, `God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Green Tau: issue 118

24th October 2025

Shaping a better world with Wild Card

This morning Wild Card handed both a petition with 122,000 signatures and an open letter signed by nearly 50 high profile individuals and organisations, including, Green Party leader Zack Polanski, former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams, former chair of the IPBES and IPCC Sir Robert T Watson, Green Christian and Christian Climate Action, to Sarah Mullally the soon to be arch bishop of Canterbury . The petition took the form of a beautiful crafted paper model of the Ark, covered all the names, and which was carried aloft (by dignitaries that included Chris Packham and Helen Burnett who both made eloquent addresses) accompanied by an eagle, a beaver and a salmon, a whole host of flags and banners and well wishers wearing an assortment of decorative hats and tokens of the natural world.

The petition and the letter asked the Church Commissioners undertake to rewild 30% of the land that they currently steward on behalf of the Church corporate. (1) This land totals 108,000 acres of land (the equivalent of 60,000 football pitches) and that is separate from land owned by individual parishes and dioceses (which interestingly is an almost equivalent amount).

The United Kingdom is one of the most nature depleted nations in the world. Recognising the extent of this and its adverse impact on our wellbeing, the UK government has joined with others in 2022 in signing up to the international Global Biodiversity Framework (2), undertaking to restore and protect 30% of land and sea by 2030. Currently only 2.83% (3) of land in England meets the desired nature-rich standard so there is clearly a lot of ground yet to be covered in the next four years! The area of land under the control of the Church Commissioners makes the Church part of the 1% that owns 50% of the land in the UK.

Wild Card is raising awareness about the necessity of rewilding – the natural environment is our life-supply system providing us with fertile soils, pollinators, fresh air, clean water, carbon capture and flood protection, as well as enabling food production and medicines, mental wellbeing and recreation – and calling on major landowners to step up to the mark and and rewild – restore and protect for nature – 30% of their land.

Surely the Church as a Christian organisation, with the God-given commands to cherish and protect the Earth and to love our neighbours, should be at the forefront of this campaign and leading by example?

Sadly no one at St Paul’s Cathedral would receive the Ark nor allow its entry into that place of worship. Instead a phalanx of security personal ensured that no one trespassed onto the steps of that august building.

(1) https://wildcard.land/campaigns/rewild-the-church

(2) https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criteria-for-30by30-on-land-in-england/30by30-on-land-in-england-confirmed-criteria-and-next-steps

(3) https://www.wcl.org.uk/30by30-press-release-2025.asp

PS You can still add your name to the petition – https://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/help-save-nature-by-rewilding-the-church-s-massive-landholdings

PPS you can read Helen’s beautiful address here –

In the story of Noah and his Ark you may notice all sorts of things but the bit that always bugs me is that Noah’s wife doesn’t get a name……………

So, let’s start this morning by celebrating loud and clear what a delight it is to be addressing Sarah Mullaly first ever woman to hold the post of the Archbishop of Canterbury

At the helm as the Archbishop of Canterbury , she will become our very own 21^st century Noah and inherits a precious ship that must not sink.

We pray that she will not be overwhelmed by the floods that threaten us, but that instead, she will read the signs of the times and have the courage to save the biodiversity of this land – that she will do all she can to advocate for wilding church land and to act as a bulwark against the biodiversity and nature crisis of our times

Bishop Sarah’s first words to a waiting world were so encouraging –

‘ In the apparent chaos which surrounds us, in the midst of such profound global uncertainty, the possibility of healing lies in acts of kindness and love.’

Our hope this morning is that it will be kindness and love for our ‘other than human’ kin that will move Bishop Sarah to do all that she can to steer and shepherd us through these times,

to lead the church with the urgency of Noah building the ark,

and to act now to use church land for healing, regeneration and restoration.

How amazing would it be if the Church of England, through pressure on the Church Commissioners, could be the dove that bears the olive branch of hope, setting a tide change for other major land holders to wild their land.

Bishop Sarah also said ……..

‘In parishes across this nation, I see faithful clergy and congregations worshipping God and loving their neighbours.’

In my tiny little parish, we have a church yard where we are trying, through careful land management to bring back species of flora and fauna lost to the Surrey Hills.

We have created a wildlife corridor the length of the boundary wall between us and the neighbouring agricultural land.

In our small way we are seeking to restore, and so, I call upon on our new Archbishop to join us on our journey of messy churchyards and No Mow Mays to let nature do it’s healing even when it doesn’t look tidy??? Even when it doesn’t fit the financial portfolio to do so.

Imagine 200/108,000 acres of wonderful untidiness and what that could do – could church, like the ark be a beacon of hope to a world in crisis ?

Today we implore Bishop Sarah to include in her new vocation, the vanishing wildlife of our precious land,

And I say this directly to her, “as the first female Archbishop of Canterbury unlike Noah’s wife you will have a powerful voice with which to advocate for all species and you do not even need to build an Ark !”

In this role you have the power to guide and shepherd the Church Commissioners and the broader Church to recognise that ecological collapse and climate crisis are intertwined issues that need to be addressed with the urgency of Noah.

In the words of the recent vision statement from Christian Climate Action we appeal for the Church of England, to find its courage, cease doing harm and return to its roots, to Stop Crucifying Creation and to be a place of resurrection.

The church commissioners could cease doing harm by simply dedicating one third of their land to biodiversity restoration , yes, this would take courage but it would represent a return to the roots of a radical living out of the faith that honours all things and sees all creation as sacred. Today, as a lover of God’s creation and member of her clergy I want to thank Bishop Sarah for her words in Canterbury cathedral:

‘Hope’, she said, ‘is made of the infinite love of God, who breathed life into creation and said it was good’

That goodness now lies precariously close to collapse , can she give us back that hope and be the Noah we need to steer our ark through the biodiversity crisis towards that moment when we can, once again, see in the distance the dove bearing an olive branch?

Helen Burnett

Counting on … 168

20th October 2025

Despite the powerful words of people like Greta Thunberg, Antonio Guterres, Vanessa Nakate and Pope Francis, the rate of change we see in the world around us is pitifully small in relation to the scale of the disaster we face. More and louder and increasingly persuasive voices need to be heard. We all need to become prophets of climate action. We need to be as well informed, as articulate and as persistent as we possibly can be.

Here are some pointers and resources.

How to have conversations about climate change in your daily life:-

Click to access Climate-Outreach-Talking-Climate-Handbook-How-to-have-conversations-about-climate-change-in-your-daily-life.pdf

How to talk with your MP

https://groups.friendsoftheearth.uk/get-involved/how-have-impactful-conversations-your-mp

(Although this focused on a particular ask, the principles apply generally to climate issues)

Writing to your MP about the CAN Bill

https://action.zerohour.uk/write

Looking ahead, the Climate Coalition organises annual events through which you can engage with your local community: eg Show the Love campaign and The Big Green Week

https://www.theclimatecoalition.org/campaigns

Training courses – Hope for the Future is a charity dedicated to training and supporting people to engage in effective and constructive conversations with their local politicians on climate and nature

https://www.hftf.org.uk/overview

Join a climate group with a prophetic edge. eg:-

Green Christian https://greenchristian.org.uk/

Christian Climate Action https://christianclimateaction.org/

Christian Aid https://www.christianaid.org.uk/

Laudato Si movement https://laudatosimovement.org/

In times of fear

25th October 2025

The earth is the Lord’s and all that fills it, the compass of the world and all who dwell therein. Ps 24:1

You Lord, are the source of all good things:

We praise you.

You call us to tend and care for your creation:

May we strive to do your will.

You have made us as brothers and sisters with all that lives:

May we live together in peace.

A reading from Mark 4: 35-40

On that day, when evening had come, Jesus said to them, ‘Let us go across to the other side.’ And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great gale arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’ He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace! Be still!’ Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, ‘Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?’

A response

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you:

When the waters catch us by surprise,

when the rain is heavy and the floods rise up,

Give us courage not to panic,

Give us compassions to help others,

Prompt us to change how we live

And grant us wisdom to avoid further crises.

When you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

and the flame shall not consume you:

When we are caught out by wld fires,

when we are overwhelmed by heatwaves,

Give us courage not to panic,

Give us compassions to help others,

Prompt us to change how we live

And grant us wisdom to avoid further crises.

When you hear of wars far away,

when you hear the sound of explosions close at hand,

know that God’s will is for peace:

Give us courage not to panic,

Give us compassions to help others,

Urge us to seek peace and justice

And grant us wisdom to avoid further crises.

As we look for your coming among us this day,

open our eyes to behold your presence

and strengthen our hands to do your will.

Ever remind us that the earth is yours and all that fills it.

Amen.

Counting on … 172

24th October 2025

Inequalities and planetary boundaries

We cannot continue to consume more and more and still believe that both the world will continue to provide all the resources we need and that somehow those same limited resources can provide everyone else in the world with the same level of good living. If we are to address both local and global inequalities and live within the Earth’s planetary boundaries, we in the richer echelons of the economic system must consume less. This does not mean that we have to lower our living standards but rather adapt them. We can have good living standards whilst consuming less.

Counting on … 171

23rd October 2025

Planetary boundaries and Earth overshoot day

Every year the Global Footprint Network calculates the date by which humans will have consumed a year’s worth of the Earth’s resources. Further consumption after that date uses resources at a faster rate than by which they can be replenished – in other words for that remaining part of the year our consumption takes us beyond safe planetary boundaries.

This is a global calculation. Individual nations – and indeed individuals themselves – will be consuming at different rates. Specifically there are some nations who consume far more then others and will have consumed their share of the Earth’s resources much earlier than the global Earth overshoot day – eg Qatar, the USA, Belgium inter alia. Whilst there are other nations who consume far less and may not even consume their share of the Earth’s resources before the year’s end – eg Burundi and Bhutan.

Clearly those nations who consume over and above the global average need to reduce their consumption, but would be enough if they reduced their consumption to that average? Not really because those levels of consumption would only stay within the limits of our planetary boundaries if the poorer nations were content to continue to under consume. In reality those poorer nations should be able to benefit from the better living standards that accrue from having satisfactory levels of food, education, healthcare, sanitation, housing, transportation etc.

Consumption levels for the richer nations need to fall substantially if everyone is to have a good standard of living.