The Climate Clock was unveiled this past Monday in Union Square Manhattan by the artist Gan Golan and Andrew Boyd. This clock is a countdown that, when revealed, is 7 years, 101 days, 17 hours, 29 minute and 22 seconds. This time is the perceived amount of time until Earth’s carbon budget is depleted. This would send the entire population in a complete spiral of disasters, basically how the end of the world is depicted in movies-floods, wildfires, famine and much more. This countdown was meant to scare people into finally seeing the sad truth, our time with our current practices, is running out.
What does this mean for us? I’m not sure about you but I feel completely hopeless against this running down clock. Seven years, that’s all we have left, my ten year plan seems completely useless if we won’t even have seven. I end up questioning every choice I made if we only have these few years left, how do my choices even make a difference? The main thing is, they only make a small difference, but we must hold large businesses accountable. The fear that the climate clock strikes in us should inspire us to make the changes in where we give our business. We should support those businesses who support the longevity of our time on Earth.
It is challenging to find out which businesses to support, but always begin with local businesses. If large corporations can’t be avoided, look up their policy and see the changes they are actually making. In reports they can state plans but check to see if they are on track to accomplish the goals they set. The Climate Clock should be motivation; do not waste the time we have left to initiate change. Although we only have a few years left with our current practices, we can change that now and make sure we all have a future to look forward to.