A relay in the name of climate action is underway with the aim of delivering an all-important climate change message, written with the help of children, to world leaders at the global climate summit, COP27.
The relay started off in Glasgow, the home of last global summit (COP26) on Friday 30th September with an opening ceremony to seal the climate change message inside the baton that is being carried to COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
The baton – carried by runners, cyclists, and sailors – will travel 7,767km through 18 countries including Scotland, Wales, England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel before arriving in Egypt on 5th November – a total of 38 days and nights.
The relay called “Running Out of Time” has been organised by The World Relay Ltd with the support of two charity partners. One of the partners is Carbon Copy – a UK charity inspiring big-thinking local action to tackle the climate and biodiversity crises. Throughout the relay, the charity has been highlighting local initiatives that are led by communities and partnerships to tackle climate change and protect people from its worst effects.
Ric Casale, Co-Founder of Carbon Copy, says “Carbon Copy is delighted to team up with The World Relay for this extraordinary event. The relay is so symbolic of the ambition and collaboration we wish to see at COP27, and that we already see in the people working together locally. The relay route that we have planned is a golden thread that links thousands of inspiring climate action stories, showcasing leadership at all levels, and encouraging more people to join in by doing something similar. Collective local climate action is having an impact globally, and we look forward to taking these stories to COP27 and sharing them with governments from around the world.”
The runners, from students to presidents, are participating in this relay to carry the baton in 5-10km stages across seas, mountains, deserts, towns, and capital cities to make sure it reaches its destination in time for the opening ceremony of COP27, and that the message is delivered to those attending.
The major aim of this world-record relay is to deliver the collective view of tackling climate change as a powerful message to the decision-makers at COP27 to require an effective and ambitious global response to the climate crisis. We are running out of time to secure a transition to a safe climate future.
(Stacey Barton is a guest contributor)
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