Climate Express getting ready to depart for Copenhagen

Thursday, 03 December 2009 08:55

On Saturday morning some 400 business leaders, media representatives and environmental activists will get on board the Climate Express train in Brussels and make a twelve hour journey to Copenhagen.

The ‘on-track’ conference aims to raise awareness of the transport sector’s influence on climate change, and provides a key opportunity for the passengers on board to debate the key climate talks ahead, during workshops and round table discussions on the different aspects of sustainable mobility, and how this could be addressed in a post-2012 agreement.

Passengers on the train include Achim Steiner, the Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme, Franny Armstrong, the producer and director of the film ‘The Age of Stupid’, Luo Hong, the wildlife photographer and UNEP Climate Hero, and Apa Sherpa a WWF Climate Witness who holds the world record for the most ascents of Mount Everest,   Yoshio Ishida, UIC Chairman and Vice Chairman of East Japan railways, Jean-Pierre Loubinoux, the Director General of the International Union of Railways (UIC).

By drawing power entirely from renewable sources of energy, the journey on the Climate Express will be totally CO2-free. If the same group of people flew to Copenhagen instead of taking the train, they would produce 115kg CO2 per person.

The train to Copenhagen’ project, is organized by the International Union of Railways (UIC) with the support of the UN’s Seal the Deal! campaign and WWF, the global conservation organisation.

Read more about the journey on the Train to Copenhagen website.