How many Earths would we need if everyone lived like a U.S resident? 

5.1….that’s an issue. Biocapacity refers to the ability of ecosystems to regenerate what people use. If people are using resources at a faster pace than they can replenish, then we will eventually run out.  All life competes for space, humans, animals, plants, and more. Humanity is using nature 1.8 times faster than our planet’s biocapacity can regenerate. Scientists have gathered that humans used 173% of the planet’s biocapacity in 2017, compared to 119% in 1980.

The Ecological Footprint is the only metric that measures how much nature we have and how much nature we use. It has come to show that humans are overstepping their boundaries on Earth. It’s no surprise that we all have unsustainable living habits, the numbers get worse every year.

The real question is, when will it be too late? 

Earth has at least 1.5 billion years left to support life. If humans last that long, Earth would be overall uncomfortable for them, but livable in some areas in the polar regions. Scientists suggest that at some point we will have to relocate off Earth.