Four green activists from South West England still plan to cycle to climate talks in Paris despite Friday’s terrorist attacks that left 129 dead and more than 350 injured.
The cyclists are Euan McPhee, 68, from Falmouth, Cornwall, Roger Creagh-Osborne, 63, from Launceston, Cornwall, Ricky Knight, 66, from Barnstaple, Devon, and Ewan Jones, 45, from Bruton, Somerset.
The group begin the 300-mile journey to the French capital tomorrow (Thursday 19 November), via ferry from Portsmouth to St Malo in France.
On their arrival in Paris, they will deliver a remarkable report on CO2 reduction to the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 21).
The Climate Vision report by Luci Issacson claims that more than 100 people and organisations in the South West saved approximately 3,000 tonnes of carbon over a six-year period simply by changing their behaviour.
The report is timely as scientists predict 2015 will be the first year that global temperatures rise one degree Celsius above pre-industrial levels; a two-degree rise would lead to irreversible climate consequences.
Somerset cyclist Ewan Jones hopes the devastating winter flooding across the county in 2013 and 2014 will help galvanise the South West to reduce its carbon footprint and set an example for the rest of the UK.
“There have been many fine words from politicians on climate change but too little action to reduce the threat it poses. It’s time to stand up and be counted,” he said.
A series of climate change demonstrations worldwide will take place on Sunday 29 November ahead of the COP 21 conference, which runs from Monday 30 November to Friday 11 December.
More information available at: www.pedal2paris.uk