COP27: Thousands Set to Send a Message to World Leaders in Record-Breaking Climate Relay

Thousands of runners are preparing for their stage of a record-breaking relay effort to pass a baton across 7,767km and 18 countries to deliver a climate message to world leaders at the United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP27, in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. 

Called ‘Running Out of Time’, the mass participation relay from Glasgow, Scotland (COP26 host city) to Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt (COP27 host city) will take 38 days and nights and be the longest non-stop relay ever attempted. And it's all in the name of climate action!

The relay starts on September 30th 2022 and the inaugural stage will begin following an opening ceremony hosted by Glasgow City Council, where the message will be sealed in the baton.

Carried by runners, cyclists and sailors, it will journey on a route through Scotland, Wales, England, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Albania, Greece, Cyprus, Israel and Egypt - arriving to Sharm el-Sheikh on November 5th 2022 in time for COP27 which will take place from 6th-18th November 2022.

Runners - from kids to Presidents - will carry the baton in 5-10km stages of the route which crosses seas, mountain ranges, glaciers, and deserts, villages, towns and capital cities. It will visit hundreds of schools, at-risk locations and climate change projects to inspire and champion local climate action. At the same time, runners will be fundraising for the Foundation for Environmental Education’s Global Forest Fund and Carbon Copy.

Running Out of Time Co-Founder Jamie Hay says “This is our most critical mission yet. Our aim is to deliver a powerful message to the decision makers at COP27 with so much support that it is impossible to ignore if we’re to have a hope of securing a transition to a safe climate future.  Running Out of Time symbolises the very essence of climate action - it’s an extraordinary, bold, ambitious plan that will only succeed because everyone has worked together.  I know we can do it.”

As part of the relay, pupils from more than 68 countries have so far signed up for a Schools Action Day on 3rd November and up to a million are expected to take part. The exciting virtual educational programme will champion climate change solutions while empowering young people to create an environmentally conscious world through experiential, project-based learning.

People around the world who are unable to run a stage on the physical route won’t miss out. They’re invited to pass the baton during a Global Virtual Relay on November 5th 2022 which is expected to attract tens of thousands of runners in the name of climate action. 

Running Out of Time is organised by The World Relay ltd and made possible thanks to the collaborative effort of a great many partners and supporters. 

Register to take part: www.running-out-of-time.com