As the deadline to reach 1.5°C of global warming ticks below 7 years, the Climate Clock officially launched the international Climate Emergency Day on July 22, 2022.
The day was observed in different cities including New York City, New Orleans, and Harrisburg in the US, Rome in Italy, United Kingdoms’ London, Rwanda’s Kigali, Abuja in Nigeria, Accra in Ghana, and Johannesburg in South Africa.
The Climate Clock is a graphic to demonstrate how quickly the planet is approaching alarmingly high global warming, given current emissions trends. It is updated every year to reflect the latest global CO2 emissions trend and rate of climate warming.
As of now, the clock counts down towards July 2029. It is located on the side of a glass-fronted building in lower Manhattan in New York, and was installed in September 2020 by climate activists and artists.
Different climate advocates across the world argue that the global commitments, government leaders’ and the industry’s proactivity is still not on track to meet the rather worrisome deadline.
“This shift to less than 7 years to keep global warming below 1.5°C, should change the direction political decision-makers choose to take going forward. And the media should help in communicating the urgency of climate challenges,” said Matthew Mensah, Spokesperson of Climate Clock Africa.
He said that Rwanda’s efforts in fighting climate change by not only establishing but also implementing environmental friendly policies, should be taken as an example by the rest of African countries, so as to curb climate change, before it is as ‘bad’ as in the rest of the world.
It was said during an event that marked the First declared Climate Emergency Day in Rwanda at Kigali Independent University (ULK).
The event brought together faculty members, students and other external stakeholders like Climate Clock Africa, Fridays for Future, Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), and others.
“Climate change is caused by us (human beings) but we are the only ones and animals to suffer from it. The earth will keep on rotating as usual, whilst we lack clean oxygen, food and all basic necessities to support life on earth,” commented Michelle Defreese, Senior Officer at GGGI.
Calling upon the youth’s contribution, she provided tips on fiqghting climate change, “start by getting informed about the issue and the science behind it, get involved by using your skills and talents to support the climate change movement and be intentional about it.”
It is time the youth stop hearing such issues without feeling any need to be bothered enough to take action, said Madiha Mahamat Alhadi, a student at ULK.
“Whether it is through conducting awareness, bringing climate change into our usual discussions, or simply stopping wasting resources like electricity, water and disposing of our wastes properly, I’m sure it would go a long way,” she said.
Climate change refers to the significant, long-term changes in the global climate, which result in high fluctuations of global average temperatures.
The biggest drive of climate change has been releasing heat-trapping gasses, greenhouse gasses, to power our modern lives, burning fossil fuels and excessive land use.
Climate change involves rising temperatures, extreme weather events, rising sea levels, shifting wildlife populations and habitats, and others.
