 |
Pan American experiences
|
------- |
Enter caption1
|
BRAZIL ------------------------------------------527[FEATURE] | |||
Pedaling Toward BrazilActivists Push for Greener Transport in UN Climate TalksBy Jazmin Agudelo for Ruta Pantera on 10/17/2025 7:51:29 AM |
||||
| In a world where climate summits gather tens of thousands of delegates traveling by planes and fossil-fuel vehicles, a group of activists has decided to challenge the status quo. Hundreds of cyclists have crossed Europe and parts of Eurasia and Africa, converging in Portugal to board a sailboat bound for Brazil — all without setting foot on an airplane. Their destination: Belém, the Amazonian gateway that will host COP30, the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, from November 10 to 21, 2025. This odyssey, known as the COP30 Bike Ride, is more than a symbolic journey; it is an urgent call to rethink transport as a pillar of climate action. With more than 600 participants across its routes, the initiative highlights how cycling can cut emissions, foster social equity, and connect communities in the fight against global warming. In a context where transport accounts for 24% of global greenhouse gas emissions, according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), these wheels in motion send a clear message: sustainability must start at home — or, in this case, on the road. As world leaders prepare to negotiate more ambitious commitments in Belém, these activists are pedaling not only for the planet, but for a future where climate change no longer dictates the rhythm of our lives. | ||||
|
|
Origins and Route of the COP30 Bike Ride The seed of this adventure was planted at COP29, held in Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2024. A symbolic group of cyclists handed a flag to a Brazilian delegate, promising to reach COP30 the same way — without fossil fuels. From that promise, the COP30 Bike Ride was born: a nearly 8,000-kilometer journey across Eurasia in 20 weeks, branching into parallel routes through Northern Europe and Africa. The main route began in Baku, crossing the Caucasus and Eastern Europe to reach Portugal. More than 600 cyclists joined at different stages — from local enthusiasts to seasoned activists. An additional branch covered 1,800 kilometers across Northern Europe with 200 more participants, while in Eastern and Southern Africa, smaller groups pedaled inspired routes, led by figures such as Enock Kitheka, who shared stories of vulnerable communities affected by droughts and floods. In Portugal, in Cascais near Lisbon, the main group — about 50 activists — loaded their bicycles into the hold of the Avontuur, a traditional Dutch sailing vessel, for a three-week ocean crossing to Belém. This wind-powered voyage, without diesel engines, reinforces their commitment: zero emissions every kilometer of the way. Organizers like the Dutch activist Jasmijn Schorel describe their approach as one that reaches “the heart, the mind, and the hands”: the heart through local community stories, the mind through concrete policy proposals, and the hands through completing a fossil-free journey. Upon arrival in Belém, all branches will merge for a final cycling parade into the city, delivering their demands directly to negotiators at the opening of COP30. The Role of Sustainable Transport in Climate Action Transport is the second-largest source of CO₂ emissions globally, surpassed only by energy. At COP summits, the irony is palpable: while delegates debate emission reductions, their flights produce thousands of tons of carbon. The COP30 Bike Ride seeks to expose this contradiction, advocating for policies that prioritize cycling as a scalable solution. Among its key demands: investment in safe cycling infrastructure, subsidies for electric bicycles in developing countries, and tax breaks for non-motorized transport. According to the IPCC, doubling the global share of cycling could reduce emissions by 7–11% by 2050. In Belém, these activists will push for a “Clean Mobility Pact” at COP30, integrating transport targets into the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that countries must update in 2025. This is not just rhetoric. In Europe, cities like Amsterdam and Copenhagen have transformed their mobility systems — 40% of trips in Amsterdam are made by bicycle, reducing congestion and pollution. In Latin America, where 80% of urban emissions come from vehicles, initiatives like this could inspire megacities such as São Paulo or Mexico City to invest in cycling networks, promoting equity by making mobility accessible to low-income communities. Stories from the Pedals Behind the wheels are stories that humanize the crisis. Antoine Polliand, a 28-year-old Frenchman, pedaled from Baku to Lisbon, cooking shared meals aboard the Avontuur. “Every kilometer is a reminder that change begins with personal choices,” says Polliand, who quit his marketing job to join the cause. Jessie May Green, a British member of Flotilla4Change, emphasizes the community aspect: “At every stop, we shared meals with locals, listening to how the climate affects their lives. It’s activism in motion.” In Africa, Enock Kitheka, a 35-year-old Kenyan, led a segment from Nairobi, connecting with farmers struck by droughts. “Cycling unites us; it shows that simple solutions like bikes can save crops and lives,” Kitheka recounts in a morning call with Schorel. These narratives not only inspire but also illustrate how active transport promotes physical and mental health, combating obesity and pollution — which cause seven million deaths annually. The group also includes young delegates from UNICEF, such as Danny Aguilar from Peru, who advocates for climate education integrated with sustainable mobility. Their diversity — Europeans, Africans, and Latin Americans — mirrors the global character of COP30, where Brazil aims to lead on Amazon protection despite challenges like the oil exploration promoted by President Lula da Silva. Challenges and Controversies on the Road to COP30 The journey has not been free of obstacles. Torrential rains in Eastern Europe, tire punctures on uneven roads, and the logistics of the sailboat — where bikes are stacked like sardines — tested the group’s resilience. On a deeper level, the initiative challenges the hypocrisy of the COP: while fossil fuel phase-outs are negotiated, Brazil pushes for drilling near the Amazon River’s mouth, close to Belém. Lula argues that oil revenues will fund green transitions, but environmentalists see a contradiction. Meanwhile, climate misinformation looms, with campaigns undermining the urgency of action. The UN and Brazil have launched the Global Initiative for Information Integrity, in partnership with Verified for Climate, to counteract falsehoods ahead of COP30. Logistically, Belém faces challenges: the poor city must host 50,000 attendees amid fears of service overload and risks to local Indigenous groups. Amnesty International has called for human rights protections during the summit. Yet optimism prevails. “We are small, but our pedals show there is another path,” says Schorel. Their arrival could catalyze new alliances, such as those with UNICEF youth leaders, amplifying marginalized voices. Wheels Driving Change The COP30 Bike Ride transcends cycling; it is a rolling manifesto for green transport that puts people before petroleum. In Belém, these activists will deliver not only demands but also inspiration — proof that individual actions can scale into global movements. As COP30 faces pressures — from the rise of climate skeptics to Brazil’s race against time to build infrastructure — initiatives like this remind us that the solution is already in motion. | |||
|
Click on images to enlarge:
|
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| |
|
|
|
|
| Enter caption 7 | ||||
×
|
||||
Please leave a comment about this article: 527 |
|
| Enter your email address: |
Your email will not be displayed. |
| Your nickname: | |
| Your comment: | |
| Was this article helpful to you? | |
|
|
|
Articles about exciting travel experiences in our hemisphere.
|
Experiences Finder
(Search our catalog of articles here.) |
|---|
