For a pair of student cyclists, the journey is the destination
By Cycling For Climate
Two students from Holland and Germany will start cycling on November 23 from Amsterdam to Copenhagen using two old, worn out
oma fietsen (or, 'granny' bikes) so popular in the Netherlands. Their goal is to raise awareness about climate change by pedalling 802 kilometres to the UN climate conference in Copenhagen without emitting CO2.
Nick Gloeckl (28) and Sebas Eliens (25) have no previous experience in long-distance cycling, but are determined to take on the challenge to contribute to public mobilisation against unnecessary carbon emissions. "If we can show people that it is possible to cycle to Copenhagen in the middle of the winter, with nothing else than the bikes we use everyday to commute around town, truly no one has an excuse to use a car to go a few kilometres to work or the supermarket," the pair argue.
The bicycles on which they plan to accomplish the trip have had neither special adjustments nor repairs. After many years of service on daily routes around the cities of Amsterdam and The Hague, these bikes will now face the wintry roads of Germany and Denmark.
"Our friends say we're crazy," Nick explains. "But we're going to such lengths because we think that, while drastic and effective measures should be taken by our governments, everybody should contribute to reducing carbon consumption by checking their own lifestyle."
Studies show that that Kyoto Protocol targets for industrialised countries have not resulted in reduced carbon emissions. On the contrary: emissions are rising faster than ever. As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) proposed, what's needed is a minimum of 60-percent reductions in carbon emissions 'right now' to stabilise the climate. Indeed, climate change may be the today's greatest challenge for the world to overcome.
Along their cycling journey, Nick and Sebas hope to interview politicians and activists about stances on the UN climate conference, and to speak to regular folk along the way about climate change. After stops in Bremen and Hamburg, the journey will take them further north towards Copenhagen. At their final destination, they will share their stories and those of other's they've met along the way. You can follow Nick's and Sebas's preparations and journey, while enjoying the warm comfort of home, at www.cyclingforclimate.nl.
