A new clock has been erected in the center of New York counting down earth’s carbon budget deadline. The climate clock has replaced the traditional union square clock to bring front and center that time is running out.
Based on data from the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C and carbon budgeting concepts, the clock displays two numbers;
- Carbon deadline – displayed in red this is a countdown of how long it will take at current CO2 emission rates, to use up the global carbon budget (the amount of CO2 that can still be released into the atmosphere) while limiting warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. This is the time left for action.
- Lifeline – displayed in green this shows the growing percent of the world’s energy being supplied from renewable energy sources. The aim is to increase the percentage of renewable energy use before time runs out.
The digital clock is currently showing 7 years and over 100 days until the global carbon budget is depleted. This is calculated according to current rate of emissions. With emissions still on the rise, this time may also change.
ClimateClock.world is powered by climate scientists, artists, educators, and activists across the world. They are calling for immediate action and a sustainable change to energy sources. They warn that if earth’s temperature does increase by 1.5°C or more there will be unavoidable and disastrous ramifications such as famine, heat waves, drought, floods, displacement and global conflict.
Internationally, more than 180 countries have signed the Paris climate agreement pledging to lower carbon emissions and keep the global temperature under a 2°C rise.
For more details see:
Climate clock video: https://youtu.be/m_NqyF9WQRk
Climate clock website: https://climateclock.world/
