"Overshoot," From The Limits of Growth (Summary)

What exactly does the term "Overshoot" mean? In "Overshoot," from The Limits of Growth, the author very well explains the meaning. Within the reading this term was greatly defined as going beyond limits unintentionally. The qualification to be considered an overshoot includes growth, acceleration, and/or rapid change. However, delays or mistakes have to be made in order to stay in a limitation of the actual growths, accelerations, and/or rapid changes. Overshoot can be something simple and it can also be something complex.

This reading introduces how the world's population is affecting humanity life, such as the material economy, production, and resource availability. This is the described as the overshoot. The constant growth has caused significant rises in the global change rate within the areas of production, material economy, and resource availability. The author uses charts and diagrams to show the actual affects that have been caused over a time period, starting in the year of 1950. The author states, "In the poor world, growth seems to be the only way out of poverty. Many believe that growth is required to provide the resources necessary for protection and improving the environment" (Overshoot, 6). The main argument made in the text is that most individuals, governments, and poor people believe that they can and will benefit from growth. However, it is the opposite.

Towards the ending of the reading, the author talks about what "we" can do to change the environmental dangers that "we" have created by our growth in population. Although no set solution is given, ideas of change in the everyday life can be made to create sustainability in the world we live in.