In October 2021, I cycled from Munich to Glasgow to participate in COP26, while facilitating Climate Fresk workshops on the road. The idea of my trip was to show (and prove to myself) that fighting the climate crisis and raising public awareness are actually joyful and creative adventures. This article is part of a series of publications sharing this experience.
I love cycling. Not much for the performance – more for moving from A to B powered by my legs. I love the wind when you roll downhill, I love having the time to see all small details when you push uphill. I love overpassing cars in traffic. I love my mind switching off or rather going completely crazy thinking of things that matter. All the big projects I started were born on a bike ride or on a hike.
If like cycling that much, I could have done it just for the sake of it. But the honest reality though is that I felt the need to have a good cause to stand for if I were to take weeks off.
Stupidly from me I often forget that taking a break is a good reason, but that’s another debate.
The point is, I needed to justify why I allowed myself to cycle a month alone. Good thing is that I had something up my sleeve. See, I am also a Climate Fresk facilitator, an interactive workshop based on the IPCC reports that helps spreading climate science. In a nutshell, it’s a collaborative game where the end product can be roughly described as (note this is caricatural):
- 50% depressed participants who are chocked about how little they knew about climate change and who want to do something to help out;
- 50% of over-motivated participants who want to act right after the workshop;
- 100% of empowered participants who have a clear picture of what’s going on and therefore what could be done.
Therefore, on my way to COP26, I decided to facilitate these workshops. Should it be for people hosting me, for non-profit organization, for companies. This was my strong case to explain why I was cycling in a windy, rainy and cold weather.
Which brings me to the magic combo of my trip: in my opinion there are two steps needed to fight climate change. The first one is understanding the problem, and this is what Climate Fresk is for. The second is to question and redesign the way we live. There are many facets to this one, but last October I choose to redesign travelling.
First target group for this redesign was me. Because I could book a plane to satisfy my travel cravings like visiting my friends in Cameroon and Canada, explore New Zealand and Columbia, experience Brazilian national parks, hike in north Pakistan and cycle in Kirgizstan.
As much as I wish to do all that, I wanted to check first if I could be satisfied with humbler adventures.
On October 1st, I started cycling at my doorstep and one day later, I was only 70km away from home, but oh boy, already far away in my mind. I’ve been hosted by people I did not know, I experienced cycling alone in October, discovered regions in my backyard I’ve never been to, made new friends in a foreign country.
In fact, my idea was not only to spread climate education but also to suggest another narrative by showing people how much fun it can be to adapt to and fight the climate crisis. I had a limited but deep reach: the 1-1 discussion I had on the road were magic. Every person who hosted me or whom I met can testify how happy I was on that trip.
Which might sound weird because in fact I have been spreading the bad news of Climate Emergency. I assumed a sane person would neither find it fun nor enjoyable.
And yet I am sane. And yet it was fun and enjoyable. Cherry on top: it is empowering.
So while making a person aware (without shaming!) that the last flight he or she took blew up his/her carbon budget one needs to show there are other alternatives which are not only less polluting but also super enjoyable. Don’t worry, it does not need to be cycling through European autumn rain (this is where you could question my sanity).
The best thing is that enjoyable alternatives do not only apply for travel, but also for other aspects of our daily life. In fact, my new favorite thing to do at the end of a Climate Fresk workshop is to ask participants 3 things that make them happy. And guess what: at least two if not all the activities that make them happy are CO2-free.
Mind-blowing, I know.
Now you get why I travelled by bike. It’s because I live by this new motto: be happy, fight climate change.
Important * on that flying topic. In such an international world where people can have family spread across the globe, I’ll never ever finger point on going back home to visit friends and relatives. This article questions the easy booked flights to satisfy travel cravings. I just want to invite people who can afford these type of vacation to think twice. This is the easiest way to cut emissions and it can mean having a fantastic adventure in your backyard instead. I invite you to think if you really need to book that flight and if you do: make it worth.
Les Notes à Béné 