Number-O-logy

 1.1 trillion tons IS THE CURRENT MASS OF OUR PLANET, courtesy man-made materials, which, in a first, is likely to outweigh all life on the Earth, according to scientists, detailing the “crossover point” at which humanity's footprint is heavier than that of the natural world.

Alarming Facts

  • Humans used a year's worth of natural resources in 2020 by August 22 – a calendar event known as Earth Overshoot Day. The annual date marks the point at which humanity has used all the biological resources that the Earth can regenerate during that year
  • Due to the lockdowns imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic, and the resulting cuts in human activity, Earth Overshoot Day was observed 23 days later this year than it was in 2019

Did You Know

Humans currently use 60 per cent more biological resources than can be renewed – as much as if we lived on 1.6 planets – and is on course to require the resources of two planets before 2050, warn scientists

Weighing high

According to scientists, the world's biomass in 2020 is likely to be exceeded by the cumulative amount of concrete, bricks, metals and other materials people have manufactured. Humangenerated mass is expected to exceed 3 teratons by 2040, if the current trends continue, the study warns


The Story, So Far

  1. The so-called anthropogenic(environmental pollution and pollutants) mass has increased rapidly since 1900, when it equated to just 3%of total biomass
  2. Since the dawn of the 20th century, however, the explosion of industrial activity saw human-made items double in mass every 20 years
  3. Now, anthropogenic mass is being produced at a rate of more than 30 gigatons (Gt) per year. One gigaton is equal to 1,000,000,000 tons
  4. Scientists say, the amount of biomass has declined over the last 120 years, but this is slight in comparison to the exponential increase in manmade items
  5. The best estimate for the amount of living things on planet Earth is around 1.1 teratons, according to the data
  6. Currently, concrete accounts for more than 40% of all annual anthropogenic mass, the study shows, with 549 gigatons (Gt)of concrete produced every year
  7. Aggregates, such as gravel are the next biggest contributor, accounting for 386Gt in 2020 

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