THE longest relay ever attempted kicked off at a Glasgow primary school on Friday morning to mark the lead-up to COP27.
Pupils from Sunnyside Primary School in Easterhouse eagerly took part in the opening ceremony where three students were chosen to draft a message that will travel inside the baton throughout its course.
Running Out of Time is the longest non-stop relay ever attempted and will bring together thousands of runners, cyclists, and sailors as they pass the baton hand-to-hand from Glasgow to Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.
Hetty Key, head of logistics for Running Out of Time, said: “We’re incredibly passionate about what we’re doing.
“The main purpose is to take a message from young people to the climate leaders at COP27, and that starts here, in Sunnyside Primary School.”
The message was read out by P7s Nikkole Bruce, Arran Muir and Alfie Crichton before being sealed inside the baton for its 7767km journey.
Hetty said: “I think when we look at climate change as a whole it can be incredibly intimidating - in terms of how do we personally make a difference?
“If you look at the nature of a relay, and we’ve been doing relays like this for years, and actually the power when people come together, is something incredibly special.
“This route, Glasgow to Egypt, no one person could run that, no one person could day and night just do it by themselves, and in the same way no one person can just solve climate change.
“But what we believe is by breaking it down into these smaller bits where everyone is chipping in and doing their bit, suddenly, this insurmountable task becomes possible.
“And everyone can get involved.”
Lauren Brown, the school’s coordinator for Running Out of Time, added: “I think the biggest thing with this is the positivity of it.
“It’s approaching climate action and climate education in a positive way, and it’s trying to empower from a very young age and through all ages.”
Councillor Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council, said: “COP26 shone a light on just how dire the situation facing our planet is and that collective and accelerated action is the only option to save humanity from a global catastrophe.
“While nation-states make pledges, it is cities, like Glasgow, that are delivering on a low carbon and climate resilient future and must remain central to future policy decisions and action.
“Now we must keep up the pressure on world leaders and governments to make sure that commitments of the Glasgow Climate Pact are delivered.
“The message contained within the relay baton will, I’m sure, continue to convey that strength of feeling that we saw here in Glasgow last year.
“Participating in the Running Out of Time relay to COP27 is another opportunity for Glaswegians to have their voices heard and to show their continued commitment to fighting climate change.”
The baton will travel through a slew of different landscapes from glaciers to deserts and water crossings in the lead-up to COP27, hoping to raise awareness of a holistic and community-centred approach to tackling climate change.
The baton is expected to take 38 days to reach Sharm El-Sheikh and the journey will be completed in 732 stages at around 10km each.
