The Climate Clock, a 62-foot-lomg clock in New York City’s Union Square, is about to tick past a significant milestone, indicating the remaining time to prevent climate change from worsening exponentially. The world has experienced its hottest week, with heat waves still breaking local records across the Northern Hemisphere. This is one example of how climate change is causing dangerous new extremes. 

Due to carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel burning, the planet is 1.1 degrees Celsius hotter than before the Industrial Revolution. This is causing more efforts to prevent further warming, as every degree has more severe consequences.

The Climate Clock indicates the remaining time before the CO2 emissions can achieve at least 1.5 degrees of global warming, a crucial threshold for the Paris Agreement’s climate goal. Current levels are under six years, meaning if emissions continue at current levels, we will no longer be able to limit climate change to just 1.5 degrees of warming. Climate Clock founders are holding events across five continents today to highlight the urgency of a Climate Emergency Day, including a vigil below the giant digital clock in Union Square since 2020.

“The best day to have taken action was yesterday. But we’re using [climate] data to create a timeline empowering governments and activists to demand change,” says Becca Richie, global community manager of the Climate Clock organization that grew after the flagship clock was set up in New York City. “It is possible to enact the solutions we need in that time frame and stay below 1.5 degrees.”

The Climate Clock in Union Square, New York, was initially intended to symbolize humanity’s near extinction. It replaced the 24-hour clock, unveiled in 1999 as part of a Metronome art installation. Based on data from the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change, the clock estimates the amount of time before humans produce enough carbon dioxide pollution to trigger at least 1.5 degrees of warming. It was initially displayed during New York’s Climate Week in 2020.

The Climate Clock, a display in Uni0n Square, shows the benchmarks for “lifelines” that could keep the world on track to limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees. It shows the percentage of global energy consumption sourced from renewables like wind and solar energy, which is currently under 14%. The block also shows the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pollution levels, with last year being a record-high year for energy-related CO2 emissions.

“Action is needed now. Energy infrastructure and structural change are not things that you can do in a couple of months. It’s something that needs years.” Sabine Fuss leads the working group on sustainable resource management and global change at MCC. “Even if you have marginally more time, it still means you must act immediately.”

The clock will continue to run until it hits zero, causing our carbon budget to deplete and posing a high rise in severe global climate impacts. When it runs out, there is no way of reversing climate change.