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by cstrahan 697 days ago
We'll be alright:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelshellenberger/2019/07/29...

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22029445-000-admit-it...

What value do you get out of believing in Earth Overshoot Day? Does it provide real, actionable utility? Does such a belief instill good feelings?

If I had to guess: it tickles the reward pathways in your brain, connected to your survival instinct to be aware of possible threats, whether real or (as I would argue is the case here) imagined. I would doubt there's anything you plan to personally do about Earth Overshoot Day, and I doubt thinking about it instills positive feelings. It's doom porn.