"We hope it is a good omen. The zero value" for CO2 emissions is "a time that should come in 2050"; but "maybe if we are good and lucky we could even speed up and do it sooner. I hope technology will help us". Thus the Minister of Ecological Transition Roberto Cingolani inaugurated the climate clock on the facade of the dicastery in via Cristoforo Colombo, together with the managing director of the GSE (Energy Services Manager) Roberto Moneta. What is called the 'climate clock' - which marks the time that separates us from the actions necessary to contain the increase in the global average temperature by 1.5 degrees - was inaugurated on the occasion of World Environment Day, which is celebrated all over the planet on June 5th.Born in New York in 2020, the climate clock aims to raise awareness of climate change. Now it marks a little under 7 years, 6 years and 7 months to be exact. A time that can vary depending on the initiatives that will be put in place.
"The battle against global warming is the challenge of the 21st century - declares Moneta - it requires a decisive acceleration to be won. Renewable energies will be the main levers and 'acting' is the key word to express the cultural change necessary to add precious time. "to the life" of our Planet. With the address of the ministry we will be able to leave a new environmental footprint for future generations ".
The minister is also thinking of the new generations: it is a "transition within a transition. The message to be sent to our children is that they can do better what we did, which was not very good". Then he recalls the need to raise awareness on these issues: "This is an artery where a lot of people pass every day to go to work; they will wonder what it is, someone will go and see Everyone will welcome the sense of urgency. symbol. A countdown for something very serious ".
The clock was born in the wake of the international campaign inaugurated on 19 September 2020 by artists Gan Golan and Andrew Boyd with the 'climate clock' installed on the facade of the Metronome in Union Square in Manhattan. The Italian one will also indicate the percentage of energy produced from renewable sources in the world, as well as citing the thoughts of six artists, scientists and activists known for their commitment to the environment and nature. The installation - it is explained - aims to raise awareness among citizens on the issue of climate change, so that everyone can feel part of a shared path, which will lead to a low-carbon future.
The quotes reproduced in the clock display are: "CO2 is like salt, essential to our life, but poisonous if in excess", by chemist James Lovelock; "We Run Out of Time to Be Pessimistic," by environmental analyst and founder of the Worldwatch Institute, Lester R. Brown; "The future will judge us above all for what we could do and what we did not do", by director Ermanno Olmi; "Immutability is the changing of nature", by the poet Emily Dickinson; "Sustainable management of our natural resources will promote peace," by Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai; "The Earth is not an inheritance received from our Fathers, but a loan to be repaid to our children," by Native American Chief See-ahth.