All onboard the Climate Express
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Eurostar, the high-speed provider of carbon neutral journeys between the UK and the continent, will on Friday 4 December take environmental campaigners, delegates and environmental journalists to Brussels to meet the UIC ‘Climate Express’ train to the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Copenhagen (COP 15).
The journey will begin at London St Pancras International, where there will be an official send off with dancers from India and a brass quintet from the Royal College of Music.
The group will then travel on to Brussels where they will meet up with around 400 fellow travellers from across Europe, to continue their journey on the Climate Express the morning of Saturday 5 December.
Richard Brown, CEO of Eurostar who is also joining the UIC train to Copenhagen said:
“The journey to Copenhagen will be a crucial part of the build-up to COP15. Travellers will have the opportunity to take part in an ‘on-track’ conference focussing on the rail industry’s role in tackling climate change. It is great that the Climate Express offers the opportunity for conversation and debate, before it reaches Copenhagen and in advance of the arrival any World Leaders. ”
Also travelling with Richard Brown will be a group of 25 young people from the British Councils’ ‘Climate Champions’ programme. Selected from 3000 members, the group will have the chance to meet their official delegations at COP 15 itself and call for an ambitious and binding international agreement to reduce carbon emission at COP 15.
Head of the British Council Climate Change programme, Dr David Viner said:
“This conference is a crucial milestone in the global effort to reduce the rapid rate of climate change. There is an imperative to act now as it is this and future generations who will inherit the legacy and the full impact of global climate change that we are witnessing today. That is why the British Council is working to support young people to lead by example and make a real difference at a local level. Copenhagen is now an opportunity for our Climate Champions to take their message to the heart of the debate and make their voices heard at the top table. I am delighted that these passionate and committed young people are having the chance to make their voice heard on their journey to Copenhagen.”
As a company, Eurostar promotes the sustainability of high speed rail through its Tread Lightly plan which has the aim of reducing the rail provider’s actual CO2 emissions by 35% by 2012. The initiative is supported through a partnership with Friends of the Earth. The green campaign group has rallied 250 campaigners who will travel to Copenhagen with Eurostar on Friday 11 December. The campaign will flood the streets with people – calling for a strong and fair agreement to tackle climate change.
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