Climbing towards the M62 I ventured out on the long road to COP26. 200 miles to my northwest thousands of activists, negotiators and concerned citizens were already pushing for the changes that would fingers crossed, reduce global average temperature during our lifetime. Failure would amount to a tacit suicide pact for humanity, the ultimate selfish act.
My immediate concern however was the next 30 Pennine miles; brutally hilly, and packed with 25% climbs and steep descents to test my individual resolve to this cause. Mile by twisted mile though the ferocity of the lanes abated, and the valleys opened out as the weather closed in.
I met Pete (@adventurepedlars) riding a £30 mountain bike that he would donate once he reached Glasgow. We talked for miles before I left him to his own thoughts near Leyburn. Only a careless crash resulting in a broken finger and bruised ego could mar the day. Darkness fell over Teesdale as I crept up the long climb to the watershed. I had the misty moors to myself as the road tipped downhill towards Alston, only the occasional pickup truck, sheep and owl to interrupt the rhythmic whirring of cranks .
Leaving Alston YHA the next morning the lanes alongside the South Tyne were lit up by a riot of autumnal hues; sycamore, maple, hawthorn and beech ablaze before their winter hibernation. West of Haltwhistle it was difficult not to be be impressed by the Roman legacy of Hadrians Wall. Yes, 2000 years is however less than a second on the geological clock and we would do well to remember all the civilisations and species that have come and gone in the last 100,000 years when basking in the light of our own achievement. Civilisations come and go through folly or circumstance, species become extinct (or in the case of Homo Sapiens extinquish themselves), yet we continue to ignore the lessons of history and science in the pursuit of blinkered self interest and mutual hubris. The quiet moorland roads of the Borders were the perfect backdrop for reflection, none of the riders dispersed along our route knew what COP26 would bring but we were united in the hope that positive change would result.
A crisp and bright Thursday morning dawned in Moffat, clear blue skies to accompany our small group into Glasgow. The day was filled with stories and ideas for the future. The group contained Miles and Christian who rode a borrowed bike with flat pedals, he seemed to enjoy leaving everyone behind on the climbs despite the obvious handicap of his equipment. We even recce’d a new trail through the Clyde windfarm which dropped us onto route 74 south of Abington. By mid afternoon we were rolling into Glasgow Green to be greeted by the rickshaw riders on London Road, we had arrived!
Later that evening riders descended on the Drygate Brewery tap to compare route notes and swap tales of the road, hopes for the COP were discussed, we were hopeful. We’d climbed the hills and put in the miles, over to the negotiators to do their bit.
Well they didn’t/couldn’t/wouldn’t.
We completed our challenge but behind the barricades and security cordons our leaders did not complete theirs. The can was kicked down the road, the 25% climb ignored in favour of the easy gradient.
What next?
It’s over to us. We’re not impotent. We have the luxury of living in a western democracy and flawed as it may be it’s a lot less flawed than the systems under which many of the planet’s citizens are subjugated.
Write to your MP. Write again. And again. Look at your pension and any other investments you might be lucky enough to have and take back your money from companies that do not reflect your values. Move it to companies that do. Look at everything you buy, do you need it? Is your money going to good people who respect you and our planet? If not, look elesewhere for the things that perpetuate and punctuate your brief stay on earth. In the western world this is where your power resides. Bit by bit the corporates are realising that we want change and there is no stronger message that withdrawing your dollar. In time the multi-nationals will be forced to lead the goverments on this. After all, when companies like Shell have an output equal to a european country your money may have more impact than your vote.
