4 years, 251 days. This is the time left on the Climate Clock – a stark reminder of the shrinking window to combat climate change before its overwhelming impacts become irreversible. Recently, Florida has felt the force of these changes through devastating hurricanes, Milton and Helene, that have wrecked communities. The results were tragic: lives lost, properties destroyed, and the overwhelming cost of recovery realized. However, Florida, a state where hurricanes are simply unavoidable, avoided the worst-case scenario from the predicted Category 5 Hurricane Milton, and is beginning to recover. 

The amplified winds and rainfall of these hurricanes are not natural occurrences – they are the result of a warming planet. Rising ocean temperatures fuel stronger, more destructive storms, creating a vicious cycle that communities cannot escape. While Florida bears the brunt of these storms, the consequences of global warming go far beyond the Gulf Coast. 

In New York City, the Climate Clock counts down to a tipping point, where no amount of preparation can reverse the damage already done. This looming deadline underscores a reality that every community, including the seemingly far away Massachusetts, must confront. As high school students studying the science of climate change, we are learning that the consequences of inaction will reach our own doors. The time to act is now – before it’s too late. The clock is ticking.