4 Years Until 1.5℃ Global Temperature Rise... Incheon City Urges "Urgent Carbon Neutrality Action"

Incheon City, which declared the '2045 Carbon Neutrality' vision five years ahead of the government's target, emphasized the seriousness of the climate crisis and raised awareness of the global emergency.

According to the city on the 23rd, the deadline on the 'Climate Clock,' which shows the remaining time until the Earth's average temperature rises by 1.5℃, has changed from 5 years to 4 years.

The Climate Clock is a clock that displays the remaining time until the Earth's average temperature rises by 1.5 degrees compared to the pre-industrial period (1850?1900) due to global carbon dioxide emissions. If temperature rise is reduced through carbon neutrality and other measures, the remaining time on the clock will increase.

The international climate action organization 'The Climate Clock' designates the day each year when the Climate Clock's deadline changes as Climate Emergency Day to emphasize the severity of the climate crisis.

Climate Crisis Clock installed at Incheon City Hall
Photo by Incheon City

To raise public awareness of the climate crisis and urge climate action, Incheon City installed the first Climate Clock at the city hall last year, the first among public institutions, and this year installed the second Climate Clock at Incheon Grand Park.

Additionally, the city declared the '2045 Carbon Neutrality' vision, five years ahead of the national target. Carbon neutrality refers to a state where carbon emissions and absorption are balanced, resulting in a net zero carbon output.

To achieve carbon neutrality, the city has set four major policy directions?greenhouse gas reduction, citizen action, climate crisis adaptation, and international cooperation?and 15 key tasks, while maintaining close communication with related organizations and civil society.

In particular, to secure execution power in the core area of citizen action among the four policy directions, the city is promoting the nation's first 'Carbon Neutral Climate Citizen Community' project. This project consists of a carbon neutrality practice challenge, household carbon neutrality consulting, and climate crisis response carbon neutrality education, aiming for 3 million Incheon citizens to fulfill their roles as climate citizens and achieve the 2045 carbon neutrality goal ahead of schedule.

An official from Incheon City stated, "Climate disasters caused by global climate change, such as heavy rain, heatwaves, and wildfires, are severe. Overcoming the Earth's crisis can only be solved through active participation of citizens," and urged, "Please actively participate in carbon neutrality practices in daily life, such as saving energy and eliminating disposable products."