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World’s longest relay crosses the finish line at COP27 delivering a climate message to world leaders

running out of time relay finish line egypt
World’s longest relay crosses finish line at COP27Running Out of Time

The world's longest non-stop relay ever attempted – a 7,767km journey from Glasgow to Egypt – has reached the finish line in Sharm el-Sheikh.

Organised by The World Relay Ltd, ‘Running Out of Time’ is set to be the longest ever non-stop relay with runners, cyclists, and sailors passing a baton containing a powerful climate change message from Scotland, the host city of COP26, to Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt for the inaugural COP27 summit.

The route is split into 685 stages, around 10km each, which runners are invited to sign up for. Day and night, the relay will take 28 days to pass through 18 countries: Scotland, Wales, England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Cyprus, and Israel before arriving in Egypt in time for COP27, which takes place from 6-18 November 2022.

The baton crosses seas, mountain ranges, glaciers, and deserts, towns and capital cities, including some of the world’s most vulnerable hotspots to climate change. It will visit hundreds of schools and climate change projects to inspire and champion local climate action. At the same time, the relay will be fundraising for Foundation for Environmental Education’s Global Forest Fund and Carbon Copy.

Jamie Hay, Running Out of Time co-founder, said: ‘This is our most critical mission yet. Our aim is to deliver a powerful message to the decision-makers at COP27 with so much support that it is impossible to ignore if we’re to have a hope of securing a transition to a safe climate future.’

‘Running Out of Time symbolises the very essence of climate action – it’s an extraordinary, bold, ambitious plan that will only succeed because everyone has worked together. I know we can do it.’

Along the UK section of the route, Carbon Copy, a UK charity inspiring big-thinking local action on the climate crisis, will be spotlighting 27 innovative projects where local groups are already tackling the climate and biodiversity crises.

Ric Casale, Co Founder of Carbon Copy, said: ‘Carbon Copy is delighted to team up with One Run 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 to address the biodiversity and climate crises.’

‘This relay will also be a common 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.’

Runners can register to take part in a stage of the physical relay here.

Those unable to run a stage on the physical route are invited to pass the baton during a Global Virtual Relay on November 5th 2022.

For more information, visit running-out-of-time.com

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