Setting Back the Watch of Extinction
Dexter Amos
Data Analyst, KPMG
If you ever get the chance to stroll the bustling pavements of Manhattan's Union Square, I'd implore you, for simply a moment, to look away from the yellow taxis and hot-dog stands, and glance upwards, where you will notice a clock, counting downwards. This is the Climate Clock.
Invented by Gan Golan, a New York Times Bestselling Author and Artist on the frontlines of 'Artistic Activism', the Climate Clock brings art, science, and technology together by counting down the critical time window to reach zero emissions worldwide. Our 'Deadline'.
However, despite the menacing red font, Golan insists;
“This is not a doomsday clock; the number is not zero. It’s telling us there is still time, but we can’t waste it,”
This is because the clock doesn’t just represent an ending, but also the beginning of our steps towards a secured future on this planet. If you visit Climate Clock.World, you will notice several progress trackers on key solution pathways or 'Lifelines'. By showing the viewer what needs to be done and by when, the Clock frames Golan's critical mission — a rapid transition to a safe climate future – and puts it at the very forefront of our attention.
Indeed, ClimateClock.World sympathises with the fact that many of us can't simply jet off to NYC just to stare at a clock, and therefore kickstarted a new mission to spread this initiative to all corners of our precious globe. Since its famous launch in New York in September 2020, Climate Clock teams have sprung up across the world from NYC to Seoul and even Glasgow, where I am based myself.
Therefore, if you have the time, I strongly suggest for you to check out your nearest climate clock, if possible, as it may make you rethink your actions in a climate context, as I certainly will. Indeed, as Golan puts it;
“The world is literally counting on us.”
Speaking of hours on this Earth, I have another ask, or indeed a call to action. Please look at your calendars and note dates devoted to the health of the planet. Now, you may point out 'Earth Day', a day of reflection and worldwide consideration of the planet and our daily actions which affect its condition. However, the lesser known 'Earth Hour' needs your support. 'Earth Hour' is a worldwide movement organized by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and is striving to achieve the same goals as 'Earth Day' but with sympathy to the fact that we as humans maybe cannot devote as much as a full day but can spare an hour in benefit of our global home.
'Earth Hour' began as a lights-off event in Sydney, Australia, in 2007 and is held annually on the last Saturday of March, which fell on the 25th this year. The event encouraged not just individuals and communities but also businesses to turn off non-essential electric lights and power, for a single hour, between 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. This environmental solidarity between all sectors of society not only acts as a symbol of commitment to the planet, and to its wellbeing, but also to combat the ever-present utility crisis by highlighting the over-use of these electric commodities and their detrimental effect on the planet through wastage.
In the last ten years, millions of homes across the UK and the world have turned off their lights for a single hour to show their care for our planet, and this year was no different. As far as businesses go, Professional Services firm KPMG;
"Switched off our office lights across the UK and we'd love for you to join in too!",
with employees highlighting the ways they pledged an hour, creative or otherwise, promoting #EarthHour. Or, on an individual scale, you could be like twelve-year-old Emily from Thornhill, who drew posters to put up around her school advertising the event!
With countless contributions like these, WWF hosted the most popular Earth Hour ever in its history this year and next year looks just as bright. On record, close to half a million people in almost 190 countries devoted at least an hour to the planet, however the unofficial counter will almost definitely be even higher.
If, however, you're like me and heavily rely on your devices for your day-to-day activities, unsure of how you can support the Earth Hour cause in a practical way, WWF have a plethora of suggestions on how you can spend your hour at https://www.earthhour.org/. Not only does their website pose suggestions, but further presents an ocean of information concerning the event and how to encourage learning related to climate consciousness.
Who knows? Maybe you will spend your 60 minutes informing others of the Earth Hour cause, or even wearing those old jeans instead of jumping on Amazon or Asos. Either way, each little step these hourly activists take towards climate consciousness is another step to a cleaner, greener world. Indeed, no matter how big a task, you still eat an elephant with a knife and fork.