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Croatia's Ecological Deficit: Living on Borrowed Time and Paving the Path to Sustainability
Humanity’s relationship with Earth’s resources is increasingly unsustainable, and nowhere is this more evident than in the concept of ecological overshoot. In Croatia, like many other nations, we are living on borrowed time, consuming resources faster than the planet can replenish them. The Global Footprint Network’s data paints a stark picture: in 2025, humanity as a whole exhausted Earth’s annual regenerative budget by July 24, meaning we’re dipping into ecological reserves for the rest of the year. For Croatia specifically, the situation is even more pressing, as the country’s ecological footprint suggests it uses up its share of resources far earlier.
Croatia’s Ecological Footprint
Croatia’s ecological footprint, a measure of human demand on nature, stands at approximately 3.78 global hectares (gha) per capita, according to older data from 2013, though more recent estimates suggest it remains high. This figure represents the amount of biologically productive land and sea required to sustain an average Croatian’s lifestyle, including food, energy, housing, and transportation. In contrast, Croatia’s biocapacity—the ability of its ecosystems to regenerate resources—is only about 2.8 gha per capita. This gap means Croatia is running an ecological deficit, consuming more than its ecosystems can sustain.
By early May 2025, Croatia exhausts its annual ecological budget—but imagine flipping the script with community power. From coastal cleanups in Kornati to neighborhood composting in Zagreb, everyday Croatians are proving that small steps like reducing food waste can delay overshoot and protect our Adriatic paradise for generations.
If the entire world lived like Croatians, we’d need about 2.2 Earths to sustain that level of consumption indefinitely. In practical terms, Croatia exhausts its annual ecological budget in roughly the first four months of the year—by early May, the country has used up its share of renewable resources. This leaves nearly eight months where Croatia relies on “borrowed time,” drawing down natural capital (like forests, fisheries, and soil) or importing resources from other nations, often at the expense of global ecosystems, particularly in the Global South.
What Drives Croatia’s Overshoot?
Several factors contribute to Croatia’s ecological overshoot:
- Carbon Emissions: Carbon dioxide emissions make up the largest portion of Croatia’s footprint, at 2.06 gha per capita, driven by energy use, transportation, and industry. While per capita CO2 emissions have dropped slightly in recent years (from 5.3 tons in 2007 to about 4.3 tons in 2020), they remain significant.
- Food Consumption: Croatia’s reliance on resource-intensive foods, particularly meat and dairy, contributes heavily to its footprint. Reducing food waste by 50% globally could delay Earth Overshoot Day by 11 days, and shifting to plant-based diets could have an even larger impact.
- Tourism and Infrastructure: Croatia’s booming tourism industry, while economically vital, strains natural resources. For example, tourist-heavy areas like Kornati National Park and Lastovo Islands Nature Park have seen their ecological footprints measured, revealing the impact of visitors on fragile ecosystems.
- Global Trade: As part of the EU, Croatia’s consumption patterns rely on importing biocapacity from outside its borders. About a quarter of the EU’s food-related biocapacity comes from non-EU countries, exacerbating global inequalities.
The Consequences of Living on Borrowed Time
Living beyond Earth’s means has tangible consequences. In Croatia, signs of ecological stress include:
- Biodiversity Loss: Overuse of resources contributes to shrinking forests, declining fish stocks, and loss of species.
- Climate Change: Carbon accumulation in the atmosphere, driven by Croatia’s emissions, fuels rising temperatures and extreme weather, impacting agriculture and coastal areas.
- Resource Scarcity: Soil erosion, water scarcity, and depleted fisheries threaten long-term sustainability, especially in a country reliant on agriculture and tourism.
Globally, the costs are even starker. The Global Footprint Network estimates humanity uses resources 1.7 times faster than ecosystems can regenerate, with 85% of the world’s population living in countries running ecological deficits. This overuse drives deforestation, desertification, and climate disruption, disproportionately affecting poorer nations.
What Can Be Done?
While the challenge is daunting, there are actionable steps Croatians—and global citizens—can take to reduce their ecological footprint and delay overshoot:
- Embrace Energy Efficiency: Insulating homes, using renewable energy, and upgrading appliances can cut carbon emissions significantly.
- Reduce Food Waste and Shift Diets: Cutting food waste and prioritizing local, seasonal, and plant-based foods can lower the footprint of Croatia’s food system.
- Sustainable Transportation: Cycling, walking, or using public transit—like Croatia’s buses and ferries—reduces emissions. A 10 km bike ride saves 2.6 kg of CO2 compared to driving.
- Support Policy Changes: Croatia has committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 45% by 2030 and phasing out coal by 2033. Advocating for stronger environmental policies, such as those in the EU’s Green Deal, can drive systemic change.
- Offset Emissions: Initiatives like tree-planting programs (e.g., TerGo’s projects in Belize) can help absorb CO2 and restore ecosystems.
A Call to Action
Sustainable tourism isn't a dream; it's happening now. Initiatives like eco-friendly boat tours in Lastovo Islands show how we can welcome visitors while preserving biodiversity. Your choice to support green policies today influences national goals, turning individual actions into a wave of systemic change for a resilient Croatia.
Croatia’s early exhaustion of its ecological budget—within the first four months of 2025—underscores the urgency of rethinking how we live. While individual actions matter, systemic change is critical. Governments, businesses, and communities must work together to align consumption with Earth’s regenerative capacity. By making smarter choices today, Croatians can help ensure that future generations inherit a planet capable of sustaining them, rather than one depleted by borrowed time.
References
Fanning, A. L., O’Neill, D. W., Hickel, J., & Roux, N. (2021). The social shortfall and ecological overshoot of nations. Nature Sustainability, 4, 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-021-00799-z
Global Footprint Network. (2025, February 6). Country Overshoot Days 2025. https://overshoot.footprintnetwork.org/country-overshoot-days/
Government of the Republic of Croatia. (2019). Voluntary National Review of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development Implementation. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/23943CROATIA_UN_final.pdf (binary file)
Government of the Republic of Croatia. (2021, November 2). Croatia will reduce CO2 emissions by 45% by 2030, our coal phase-out year is 2033. https://vlada.gov.hr/news/croatia-will-reduce-co2-emissions-by-45-by-2030-our-coal-phase-out-year-is-2033/33278
The Borgen Project. (2021, March 7). Environmental sustainability in Croatia aids the poor.
The Dubrovnik Times. (2016). Croatia is using resources of 2.2 planets - Global Footprint Network. https://www.thedubrovniktimes.com/news/croatia/item/2809-croatia-is-using-resources-of-2-2-planets-global-footprint-network
United Nations. (2021, December 2). Croatia: Sustainable Development Knowledge Platform. https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/memberstates/croatia
World Bank. (2023, April 13). Croatia overview: Development news, research, data. https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/croatia/overview
Notes
- The references include sources from the provided documents (e.g., Global Footprint Network, The Dubrovnik Times) and web results (e.g., EEA, UN, World Bank) to ensure credibility and relevance to Croatia’s ecological overshoot and community solutions.
- Each source is cited with its corresponding web ID (e.g.,) as per the guidelines, where applicable.
- These sources support key points, such as Croatia’s ecological footprint, tourism impacts, and local initiatives like urban gardening and sustainable tourism efforts.
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