Humanity is consuming natural resources faster than the planet can replenish them, and the gap is growing. The result is environmental degradation, economic risk, and a shrinking inheritance for future generations. With the global population still rising and consumption habits in wealthy nations showing little sign of slowing, addressing overconsumption has never been more urgent.

This guide explains what overconsumption of natural resources means, which resources are most at risk, how it harms the environment, and what individuals and industries can do about it.

Key Takeaways

• Earth Overshoot Day 2026 falls on July 30, the point at which humanity exhausts the planet’s entire annual ecological budget with five months still remaining in the year.
• Humanity is currently using nature 73% faster than Earth’s ecosystems can regenerate, the equivalent of consuming 1.73 planets simultaneously. This is the highest level of ecological overshoot ever recorded.
• The two most consumed natural resources on Earth are water and sand.
• North Americans consume an average of 90 kilograms of natural resources per person per day, nine times more than the average African.
• Transitioning to renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and circular economy practices are the most effective paths forward.

What Is Overconsumption of Natural Resources?

Overconsumption occurs when humans extract or use natural resources faster than the planet can replenish them. When this happens, ecosystems cannot recover from excessive resource extraction, leading to biodiversity loss and long-term deterioration of the natural world. Once a resource is fully depleted from a region, it is often gone permanently.

The logging industry is a clear example. Timber is used for construction, paper manufacturing, and fuel. Billions of people depend on it for shelter, heat, and cooking. But overconsumption of timber leads to deforestation. Since 1990, the world has lost 420 million hectares of forest land, and between 2001 and 2025, total global tree cover loss reached 540 million hectares driven primarily by agricultural expansion, logging, and infrastructure development.

The stakes are not abstract. When essential resources like clean water, fertile land, and building materials disappear, the consequences fall hardest on the most vulnerable communities around the world.

How Does Overconsumption Affect Natural Resources?

Natural resources need time to replenish. Forests must regrow after logging. Fish populations must recover after commercial fishing. Aquifers refill slowly after extraction. When human demand exceeds these regeneration rates, the consequences compound over time.

A useful benchmark is Earth Overshoot Day, the calendar date each year when humanity’s demand for ecological resources exceeds what Earth can regenerate in that same year. In 1972, overshoot day fell on December 31, meaning humanity was living within the planet’s means. By 2026, it falls on July 30, the highest level of ecological overshoot in human history. From that point on, we operate on ecological credit for the rest of the year, drawing down natural capital in forests, fisheries, freshwater systems, and the atmosphere’s capacity to absorb CO₂.

Understanding this dynamic is central to understanding how climate change and resource depletion are connected and why action on both fronts is urgent.

What is an ecological footprint?
An ecological footprint measures the land and water area a human population requires to produce the resources it consumes and absorb the waste it generates. When a nation’s footprint exceeds its biocapacity, it runs an ecological deficit. More than 80% of the global population lives in countries currently running such a deficit.

What Natural Resources Are We Consuming?

Natural resources fall into two broad categories: non-renewable and renewable. Both are under pressure from overconsumption, though for different reasons.

Non-Renewable Resources

Non-renewable resources form over millions of years and cannot be meaningfully replenished on human timescales. They include fossil fuels like oil, coal, and natural gas, as well as mined materials such as metals, ores, diamonds, sand, and other raw materials.

Relying heavily on non-renewables carries serious economic risk. More than 80% of the world’s energy still comes from oil, coal, and natural gas. The consequences of burning fossil fuels extend well beyond supply risk. They include greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and accelerating climate change. If fossil fuels became too scarce or expensive to extract, the disruption to the global economy would be severe, with no ready substitute available at the same scale.

Demand for critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, and copper is also expected to surge dramatically in coming decades, driven by the transition to electric vehicles and renewable energy infrastructure. Even the green energy transition has its own resource demands to manage carefully.

Renewable Resources

Renewable resources replenish naturally in a much shorter timeframe. They include solar and wind energy, food crops, fish, animals, and lumber.

Wind and sunlight are effectively limitless as energy sources. We can use them without depleting them, which is why transitioning to sustainable energy sources is such a critical lever for reducing overall resource pressure. Biological renewables like fish populations and forests, however, must be carefully managed to avoid overexploitation.

Fish stocks are a pressing concern. The FAO reported that 35.5% of global fish stocks were overfished in 2025, continuing an upward trend from previous years. Overfishing doesn’t just reduce the catch available today. It disrupts marine food webs, causes biodiversity loss, and threatens the livelihoods of coastal communities worldwide.

Overconsumption also degrades fertile agricultural land. As soil quality deteriorates and water becomes scarcer, the capacity to feed a growing global population comes under increasing strain.

How Does Consumption of Natural Resources Vary by Country?

Resource consumption is closely correlated with national wealth. Wealthier nations consume 10 times more natural resources than developing countries.

North America leads global per-capita consumption. The average North American uses 90 kilograms of resources per day, compared to 45 kilograms for the average European and just 10 kilograms for the average African resident. According to Scientific American, over a single lifetime, one American will consume 53 times as many goods and services as a person from China and as many natural resources as 35 residents of India.

This disparity matters because it shapes where solutions need to be concentrated. High-consumption nations bear disproportionate responsibility for driving global resource depletion and have the greatest capacity to change. Understanding your own carbon footprint is a meaningful first step toward making that change personal.

How Does Overconsumption of Natural Resources Affect the Environment?

The environmental impacts of resource-intensive industries are wide-ranging and interconnected. Some are direct. Deforestation removes habitat and releases stored carbon. Others work through a longer chain, as industries that harvest natural resources generate greenhouse gas emissions that accelerate climate change, which in turn threatens the very resource systems we depend on.

Consider the construction industry. It requires metals mined from the Earth, sand and lumber as building materials, and fossil fuels to power its machinery. Each of these inputs carries its own environmental cost including habitat disruption, water use, and carbon emissions, and they compound across the full supply chain.

Atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations have risen from 367 parts per million CO₂ equivalent in 1972 to an estimated 547 parts per million in 2026, according to NOAA estimates. The accumulated ecological debt from overshoot since the early 1970s now equals approximately 20.6 years of the planet’s full biological productivity.

Protecting land and ocean ecosystems and transitioning to sustainable energy sources represents humanity’s best opportunity to reverse this trend. For businesses already thinking about their role in this, carbon offsets can support reforestation and emissions reduction projects that directly address the damage overconsumption has caused.

What Are the Most Consumed Natural Resources?

The two natural resources consumed in the greatest quantities globally are water and sand.

Sand

Sand is the world’s second most consumed natural resource, used primarily in concrete for construction. Global urbanization drives an enormous appetite for it, and humanity extracts approximately 50 billion tons of sand each year. The consequences include the deterioration of river systems and ocean habitats as sand is removed in vast quantities.

Water

Water is the most consumed natural resource on Earth. It is essential for drinking, agriculture, cooking, industrial processes, and electricity generation. Despite water covering 70% of the planet’s surface, 97.5% of that water is ocean water. Accessible freshwater is a genuinely finite resource.

The numbers reveal the scale of the problem. About 4 billion people, nearly two-thirds of the global population, experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year. Agriculture accounts for roughly 70% of all global freshwater withdrawals. According to the BBC, 21 of Earth’s 35 major aquifers are already receding. Climate change is deepening the crisis by intensifying droughts and altering rainfall patterns precisely where demand is growing fastest.

The global carbon cycle is tightly linked to freshwater availability. Warming temperatures and disrupted precipitation patterns are a direct consequence of the same fossil fuel overconsumption that drives resource depletion more broadly.

How Can We Slow the Overconsumption of Natural Resources?

Slowing overconsumption requires action at multiple levels: policy, industry, and individual behavior. The most impactful changes involve moving away from non-renewable resources, improving efficiency across industries, and embracing the principles of a circular economy, in which materials are reused and regenerated rather than consumed and discarded.

Transition to renewable energy. New technologies continue to lower the cost and improve the efficiency of renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Accelerating this transition reduces fossil fuel burning and the extraction pressures that come with it. Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) are one accessible way for households and businesses to support clean power today.

Sustainable agriculture and fisheries management. More efficient food production, better fisheries regulation, and reduced food waste can protect natural lands and fish populations while feeding a growing global population. Reducing meat consumption is one of the highest-impact dietary changes an individual can make.

Water desalination and conservation. Desalination technology can convert ocean water into freshwater suitable for drinking and agriculture, reducing pressure on strained freshwater systems. Conservation measures in agriculture, which is by far the dominant user of freshwater, can make an outsized difference.

Circular economy practices. Designing products for longevity, repairability, and recyclability reduces the total volume of resources extracted and the waste generated. This model is gaining traction across manufacturing, construction, and packaging industries and is increasingly recognized as one of the most commercially viable paths to sustainability.

Carbon offsetting. For emissions and resource use that cannot yet be eliminated, verified carbon offsets fund projects that reduce deforestation, capture methane, and support renewable energy development. Terrapass carbon offset projects include reforestation, REDD+, landfill gas capture, and residential solar installation.

Individual action. Each person can meaningfully reduce their ecological footprint by being conscious of consumption habits. Buying less, choosing durable goods, reducing food waste, and reusing materials wherever possible all add up. Use the Terrapass carbon calculator to understand exactly where your personal footprint comes from and take targeted action.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main natural resources being overconsumed?

The most overconsumed resources include freshwater, sand, fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas), timber from forests, and fish stocks. Fertile agricultural land and minerals like lithium and cobalt are also under increasing pressure.

Which country consumes the most natural resources per person?

North Americans, and Americans in particular, consume the most natural resources per capita. The average North American uses 90 kilograms of resources per day, compared to 45 kilograms in Europe and 10 kilograms in Africa.

What is Earth Overshoot Day and why does it matter?

Earth Overshoot Day marks the point in the calendar year when humanity has used up all the ecological resources the planet can regenerate that year. In 2026, it falls on July 30, the highest level of ecological overshoot ever recorded. Everything consumed after that date draws down ecological reserves, accelerating long-term depletion.

How does overconsumption drive climate change?

Overconsumption drives climate change primarily through the extraction and burning of fossil fuels, deforestation (which releases stored carbon), and industrial processes that generate greenhouse gas emissions. Understanding how the carbon cycle works helps explain why reducing consumption and offsetting emissions are two sides of the same solution.

How can individuals reduce their impact?

The most effective individual actions include reducing home energy use, minimizing food waste, consuming less meat, and buying durable goods over disposable ones. Calculating your carbon footprint is a good starting point, and offsetting unavoidable emissions through Terrapass helps fund real-world emissions reductions.

What is a circular economy?

A circular economy is an economic model designed to eliminate waste by keeping materials in use for as long as possible through reuse, repair, remanufacturing, and recycling. It contrasts with the dominant take-make-dispose model that drives overconsumption and is increasingly seen as one of the most practical large-scale responses to ecological overshoot.

Taking Action to Protect Natural Resources

Overconsumption is depleting the natural systems that all human life depends on. The data is stark. In 2026, humanity hit the highest level of ecological overshoot ever recorded, and the real human footprint is still growing.

The solutions exist. Renewable energy, sustainable resource management, and a shift toward circular economic models can collectively move us back toward a world that operates within planetary limits. Technology continues to improve our capacity to do more with less, from precision agriculture to advanced water treatment to verified carbon markets.

Systemic change is essential, but individual choices also matter. A world of responsibly consumed resources is a world of greater health, stability, and opportunity for everyone including future generations.

Learn how Terrapass can help you reduce your carbon footprint and offset your consumption.

Brought to you by terrapass.com

The post Overconsumption of Natural Resources: Causes, Effects & Solutions (2026) appeared first on Terrapass.

As electricity demand rises and renewable energy grows in the U.S., battery storage is key. Waymo has launched a battery repurposing program to give retired electric vehicle (EV) batteries a new purpose in the power sector.

Waymo is working with B2U Storage Solutions to turn used batteries from its all-electric fleet into large-scale energy storage systems. Instead of recycling these batteries after use, Waymo will repurpose them to store electricity and support local power grids.

This program reflects a commitment to the circular economy, keeping products useful before recycling.

Adam Lenz, Head of Sustainability & Environment at Waymo, said:

“Our shared fleet of EVs provide a massive opportunity to support the growth of clean energy on the electricity grid while expanding the circular economy. Through this partnership, we can repurpose our batteries for local grid storage and ensure our batteries continue to provide economic and environmental value to the community long after they’ve retired from the road.”

Turning Old EV Batteries Into Energy Assets

EV batteries often retain significant storage capacity after their driving days. While their performance may drop for vehicles, many can still serve well in energy storage projects.

The press release says that retired Waymo batteries will join grid-connected energy storage systems through this partnership. These systems will store electricity from renewable sources like solar and wind.

During peak renewable generation, especially when solar production is high, the batteries will absorb excess electricity. Later, when demand increases in the evening, this stored energy can flow back into the grid.

This process helps balance electricity supply and demand, making renewable energy more reliable.

B2U specializes in second-life battery storage technology. They will manage the batteries during their second use and ensure proper recycling when they reach the end of their life.

Here’s a picture to show how B2U’s storage works.

This collaboration creates a complete lifecycle pathway for EV batteries—from vehicle use to energy storage and finally recycling.

Supporting Growing Demand for Battery Storage

This initiative comes at a time of rapid growth in renewable energy and battery storage in the U.S.

• According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), developers plan to add 86 gigawatts (GW) of new utility-scale electricity generation capacity by 2026. If completed, it would be a record increase.

Solar energy will account for over half of these additions, with battery storage the second-largest category. Wind energy also plays a significant role in this growth.

In 2025, the U.S. power sector added 53 GW of new capacity, the highest since 2002. Meanwhile, battery storage installations keep increasing.

• They also expect to add about 24 GW of utility-scale battery storage in 2026, surpassing the previous record of 15 GW installed in 2025. Over the last five years, more than 40 GW of battery storage capacity has been added to the grid.

Texas, California, and Arizona are expected to account for around 80% of the planned battery storage in 2026.

• LATEST: Waymo’s Brand New Robotaxi Ojai Brings Cleaner, Smarter Rides to More Cities in the U.S. 

The Grid Advantage of Reusing EV Batteries

Repurposing EV batteries offers crucial benefits for power systems and communities.

First, it extends the useful life of battery materials. Making lithium-ion batteries requires a lot of critical minerals and energy. Second-use batteries maximize the value of those materials.

Second, second-life batteries can lower energy storage costs. Since the batteries have already served in transportation, utilities can access storage capacity at lower costs than buying new systems.

Third, repurposing helps reduce electronic waste. Companies can keep batteries in use for several more years, easing pressure on waste management.

• Most importantly, battery storage boosts grid reliability. Renewable sources like solar and wind don’t produce electricity constantly. Energy storage systems fill this gap by storing power when production is high and delivering it when demand rises.

As renewable energy grows, these storage systems will be vital for stable electricity networks.

Freeman Hall, CEO of B2U Storage Solutions, said:

“This agreement marks a significant milestone in B2U’s mission to provide integrated repurposing services to the automotive industry. By extending the use of these batteries as grid storage, we are monetizing the full potential of EV batteries, now providing crucial stability to the power grid as energy demand continues to grow.”

First Deployments Planned for Texas and California

The first battery storage projects in the Waymo-B2U partnership will focus on Texas and California. Waymo already provides public autonomous ride-hailing services in these states.

Both states lead in renewable energy deployment. California increasingly relies on clean electricity and often has periods where renewable generation exceeds demand. Texas continues to lead the nation in new solar installations.

Waymo plans to repurpose old EV batteries into stationary storage systems. This will help manage renewable energy growth and improve local electricity infrastructure.

The company believes this initiative could deploy hundreds of megawatts of storage capacity in these regions. As autonomous EVs retire, their batteries could continue to provide value long after leaving the road.

This partnership shows how transportation electrification and clean energy can work together. Instead of viewing used EV batteries as waste, Waymo and B2U are transforming them into valuable energy assets. These assets support grid reliability, renewable energy integration, and a sustainable circular economy.

Waymo’s Broader Sustainability Efforts

The battery repurposing program is part of Waymo’s larger sustainability strategy. The company operates one of the largest fleets of fully autonomous electric vehicles, providing over 500,000 paid EV trips each week. These trips help cut emissions by replacing conventional vehicles with electric ones.

• Waymo estimates that every 500,000 weekly trips prevent about 530 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

It also measures emissions avoided through its autonomous electric service. This framework evaluates the environmental benefits of electric, autonomous, and shared mobility solutions.

Additionally, the company reports its greenhouse gas emissions through parent company Alphabet as part of broader environmental efforts.

• READ MORE: Rivian (RIVN) and Redwood Deploy 10 MWh Second-Life Battery Storage at Illinois Factory 

The post Waymo and B2U Unlock a Second Life for EV Batteries with Grid-Scale Storage appeared first on Carbon Credits.

Carbon removal is moving beyond pilot projects. A new agreement between JPMorgan Chase and Charm Industrial shows how the sector is entering a new phase. The deal combines carbon removal credit purchases with financing support, helping expand future supply while reducing project risk.

Under the agreement, JPMorgan will purchase 61,500 metric tons of carbon removal credits from Charm Industrial. The bank will also provide financing support to help the company grow its operations.

The deal highlights a broader trend. Large financial institutions are starting to view carbon removal not only as a climate tool but also as a market with long-term growth potential.

As net-zero deadlines approach, demand for high-quality carbon removal credits is rising. Companies are looking for solutions that deliver measurable climate benefits and long-term carbon storage.

Taylor Wright, Head of Operational Sustainability at JPMorganChase, remarked:

“Our initial purchase with Charm marked an important step as we expanded our ambition in carbon removal and refined how we assess quality and deliver real impact across our portfolio. This new purchase—bringing our total to 90,000 tons—together with financial support from our business, reflects how our portfolio has matured over time and Charm’s track record of delivering measurable, durable outcomes across its projects.”

Carbon Removal Becomes a Bigger Part of Net Zero

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is different from traditional carbon offsets. Many offsets focus on avoiding emissions. Carbon removal takes carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere and stores it for the long term.

Most climate experts agree that emissions cuts alone will not be enough to meet global climate goals. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), most pathways that limit warming to 1.5°C require large-scale carbon removal.

Today, the novel technological market remains small. Global demand for these engineered carbon removals is still below 10 million metric tons per year, according to CDR.fyi. 

However, the State of Carbon Dioxide Removal Report shows that total global removals—mostly from forestry—already sit at 2.2 billion tons. Looking forward, IPCC climate pathways project that total global demand will need to reach billions of tons annually by mid-century to meet net-zero targets.

That growth is expected to come from sectors such as aviation, steel, cement, and shipping. These industries are difficult to fully decarbonize and will likely need carbon removal to address remaining emissions. Thus, investors and financial institutions are paying closer attention to the sector.

Inside JPMorgan’s Growing Climate Strategy

The agreement also fits JPMorgan’s broader climate strategy. The bank has committed to aligning key parts of its financing portfolio with net-zero emissions by 2050. It has also set emissions reduction targets across sectors including power generation, oil and gas, aviation, shipping, and automotive manufacturing.

In addition, JPMorgan has pledged to finance and facilitate more than $2.5 trillion toward sustainable development initiatives by 2030. That includes $1 trillion dedicated to climate action and green solutions. Carbon removal is becoming an important part of those efforts.

Many companies can reduce most of their emissions through clean energy, efficiency improvements, and new technologies. However, some emissions are likely to remain. Carbon removal is expected to help address these residual emissions.

The structure of the JPMorgan-Charm deal is also notable. Instead of only purchasing carbon credits, the bank is helping support future production capacity. This approach gives developers access to capital while helping buyers secure future carbon removal supply.

Peter Reinhardt, CEO and Co-Founder of Charm Industrial, stated:

“JPMorganChase is helping build the infrastructure for a permanent carbon removal industry. Having a sophisticated, mission-aligned financial institution come back for a second, larger purchase while also stepping up with growth capital is exactly the kind of validation that tells us we’re on the right path.”

Charm’s Way: Turning Farm Waste Into Permanent Carbon Storage

Charm Industrial uses a process known as biomass carbon removal and storage. The company collects agricultural waste, including crop residues that would otherwise decompose or be burned. It converts this material into a carbon-rich bio-oil through a process called fast pyrolysis.

The bio-oil is then injected deep underground for long-term storage. This method is designed to keep carbon locked away for hundreds or even thousands of years.

One advantage is that the process can use existing energy infrastructure. Storage wells, transportation systems, and other equipment already used in the energy sector can often be adapted for carbon storage.

Charm has become one of the leading companies in the sector. The company says it has already delivered more than 150,000 metric tons of carbon removal to customers, making it one of the world’s largest suppliers of durable carbon removal credits.

While the technology continues to develop, many experts see biomass carbon removal as one of the more mature engineered carbon removal pathways available today.

• SEE MORE: JPMorgan’s Carbon Bet Marks a Turning Point for the Removal Market

The Carbon Removal Supply Crunch Is Emerging

Corporate demand for carbon removal continues to increase. Technology companies have been among the biggest buyers. Many have net-zero goals and are looking for ways to address emissions that cannot be eliminated through renewable energy or operational improvements.

Programs such as Frontier have also helped accelerate the market. The initiative, backed by major technology companies, commits funding to help scale carbon removal technologies.

Yet, supply remains limited. Novel or engineered solutions contribute only 0.1%, roughly 2.2 million metric tons, to the physical supply.

Analysts at McKinsey estimate global demand for carbon removals could reach 100 million metric tons per year by 2030 and grow 100-fold by 2050. Current delivery volumes are only a small fraction of that level. CDR.fyi data shows only 1.5 million metric tons were delievered as of June 2026. 

This gap between supply and demand is pushing buyers to sign long-term agreements years before credits are delivered. That trend is creating new opportunities for financing and investment.

Why Capital Could Unlock the Next Wave of Growth

One of the most important aspects of the JPMorgan-Charm agreement is the financing component.

Carbon removal projects often need large upfront investments. Companies must build infrastructure, secure storage sites, and establish monitoring systems before generating significant revenue.

New financing models are helping address this challenge. These include:

• Long-term carbon removal purchase agreements,
• Advance market commitments,
• Project financing backed by future credit deliveries, and
• Blended finance structures that combine different sources of capital.

The approach resembles the early growth of renewable energy. Long-term power purchase agreements helped wind and solar developers secure financing and expand rapidly.

Many industry observers believe carbon removal could follow a similar path. The involvement of a major institution like JPMorgan suggests the market is beginning to mature.

From Climate Niche to Investable Market

The JPMorgan-Charm Industrial agreement shows how climate finance is evolving. Companies are no longer focused only on buying carbon credits. Increasingly, they are investing in the systems needed to produce those credits at scale.

Most net-zero pathways still require large amounts of carbon removal to balance emissions from hard-to-abate industries. The challenge now is building enough capacity to meet future demand.

Technology is advancing. Corporate demand is growing. Financing is becoming more available. Together, these trends are helping move carbon removal from a niche climate solution toward a larger and more established market.

• READ MORE: New CDR Report Sounds Alarm on 5.2-Billion-Tonne Carbon Removal Gap by 2050
  

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