Climate Crisis Clock

The ClimateCrisisClock figuratively indicates the remaining time to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. It counts down to the expected (based on current knowledge) average global temperature increase of over 1.5 degrees Celsius.

Ten large digits count the remaining years, days, hours, minutes and seconds (Y-DDD-HH-MM-SS).

The data basis is obtained from the Mercator Research Institute on Global Commons and Climate Change.

Here in Braunschweig, we are committed to climate protection measures for the prevention of devastating climate consequences. The Climate Countdown makes it clear how little time is left to prevent global warming from exceeding 1.5 degrees. In addition, the countdown is a constant reminder for TU Braunschweig and its members, as well as for all other Braunschweig citizens, to act against climate change daily.

"Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. With the ClimateCrisisClock, we want to raise awareness of the urgency with which we must act to curb the negative effects of climate change. We hope that the Climate Clock will inspire students and staff at our university, as well as the wider public, to take action and find solutions that will provide a more sustainable future."

- President of TU Braunschweig, Angela Ittel.

In 2015, 195 United Nations countries signed the Paris Agreement at the 21^st UN Climate Change conference. The agreement aims to restrict global warming to no more than two degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, with a concerted effort to limit it to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius.

If it is possible to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees, some devastating consequences due to climate change could be limited. This concerns the frequency of extreme weather, droughts, forest fires and even the reaching of tipping points.

You can find more information here.

If the clock shows 0:000:00:00 one day, the Carbon budget would be depleted for limiting global warming to below 1.5 degrees Celsius.

According to current knowledge, an increase in the average global temperature of more than 1.5 degrees Celsius will have devastating consequences: Climate change impacts, some of which we are already feeling today, will increase significantly. Extreme weather events, droughts or forest fires will occur more frequently, sea levels will rise faster and the risk of reaching tipping points in the Earth's climate system will also increase. Every tenth of a degree of warming will significantly increase these effects.

You can find more information here.

The ClimateCrisisClock is powered by electricity generated by photovoltaic systems on TU Braunschweig campuses.

The idea of a Climate Clock at the TU Braunschweig came from the Students for Future Braunschweig. The project was realised by architecture students at the Institute for Architecture-Related Art and supported by the student engineering office studING Braunschweig GmbH. The Green Office of the TU Braunschweig and the Lower Saxony Centre for Climate Research also provided support.

The project was funded by:

Studienqualitätsmittel [Study Quality Funds]

Braunschweigischer Hochschulbund e.V. [Braunschweig University Association e.V.]

ALU-BAU Gräbner GmbH