Tick. Tock. The ticking of the climate clock is real and growing louder every day. The climate clock is a countdown of how long we have left — less than five years — to prevent the Earth from reaching 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. When this clock runs out, we lose the chance of reversing the damage we have done to this beautiful Earth. Yet we continue our daily lives as usual, acting like time is still on our side.
This visual reminder of our fragile future is publicly exhibited in places such as New York, U.S. and Berlin, Germany. More concerningly, the clock’s countdown is based on the present trajectory of carbon emissions. At current rates, we are on track for a future filled with catastrophic storms, wildfires and droughts. We have the tools to prevent this. So, why are we dilly-dallying as catastrophes approach? My guess is when the issue is out of sight, it’s also out of mind. Yet, we have recently seen wildfires starting in locations near us in Pennsylvania, bringing the threat to our immediate attention, and still we take no action.
This is a real and ongoing issue that we need to stop before it becomes irreversible. If existing climate policies and social behaviors do not significantly change, we may exceed that critical threshold of 1.5 C within approximately the next 15 years. Already, in the short-term, individual months and years have already exceeded 1.5 C. The crisis isn’t some distant future occurrence; it’s happening now. While there is a growing understanding that bold and quick action is required, the political climate worldwide remains divided. Despite pledges made in the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, carbon emissions have only continued to rise.
At this point, it’s evident that we need more than just pledges. We must take severe and binding actions to decrease emissions, transition to renewable energy and invest in green infrastructure. Time is running out, but we can still act before it’s too late. The clock is ticking, and every second counts.
