Famed NYC Clock Turns Climate Change Countdown

Gothamist reports:

The famous clock in Union Square that has been tracking the time of day since 1999 has been reset for a new countdown: the rapidly diminishing time left for the human race to take meaningful action to avert the most horrific and deadly consequences of climate change.

The Climate Clock was set up ahead of Climate Week over the weekend—a stark reminder of the very real and very current crisis the world faces while battling the COVID-19 health emergency.

Seven years and a little more than 100 days is the time left, according to the clock, for when mankind would need to reach 100 percent renewable energy or become carbon neutral to limit global warming from rising more than 1.5 degrees celsius from pre-industrial levels.

I always thought the thing just showed random numbers.

Remember that huge digital clock in Union Square in NYC that always confuses onlookers? Artists just transformed it into the world’s largest #ClimateClock.

The clock counts down long it will take to burn through our carbon budget & keep warming under 1.5 degrees C. Time to act! pic.twitter.com/yjERsJ90JW

— Dr. Lucky Tran ? (@luckytran) September 20, 2020