Climathon onboard ‘Sail to the COP’
On 2 October, 36 young climate change agents will depart from Scheveningen (Netherlands) to sail to the COP25 in Chile.
During Sail to the COP they will work on different challenges to come up with ideas for a sustainable future of travel. Climate KIC has given Santeri Lehtonen, one our Alumni, the opportunity to take part in this initiative. Climate KIC is supporting the first-ever Atlantic Ocean Climathon, together with the city of Santiago.
During the trip, participants will organise a think tank, and Climathon will form part of this experience. Across the course of the seven weeks on board, participants will be challenged to come up with bold solutions for how we can move forward towards a fair and sustainable travel industry by 2050. We will be giving them the opportunity to consult experts from the Climate KIC community during their sailing trip.
The young climate change agents are voluntarily working on this initiative and will have speaking opportunities at the COP itself in Chile.
Last weekend they came together to prepare for the sailing trip and to familiarise themselves with how living on a sailing boat will be. They have formed teams to work on the proposed challenges onboard.
Santeri said: “I applied to join Sail to the COP, because if we are to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement, we need a gargantuan reduction in the emissions of the travel sector – and no one is talking about it. While governments and corporates struggle with keeping their word on climate action, citizens are rising to the occasion with the necessary ambition to fight the climate crisis. We will trumpet our message from the sail boat Regina Maris, our floating home and platform, to show that travel can be transformed to become respectful of the future generations.
“I am excited to join forces with such an impressive league of extraordinary young minds. I am currently preparing for the trip, for example by chasing sailing gear from friends and family, spreading the message of the journey, and working hard to accumulate the funds necessary to finance my trip back on board of a container ship, or similar.”
If you would like to have more information about Sail to the COP and Climate KIC’s involvement, please contact Marjon Eijpe, Communications Manager Climate KIC Benelux.