Eco-adventurer Ali Abdo embarked on an ambitious 8,000 km expedition from Dubai to Baku on an e-bike to arrive in the Azerbaijani capital for the opening of the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP29) held from 11 to 22 November. 

His journey was meant to draw attention to the urgent need for climate action and to foster greater community awareness on sustainable solutions to climate change. 

On his “Journey to the COP29”, as he called his mission, Abdo was joined by fellow environmental advocate Chris Ehl. They crossed 10 countries to promote eco-friendly transportation and engage directly with communities grappling with the challenges of climate change. Their route spanned the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.

The expedition was conducted in collaboration with the Our Earth’s Climate for Sustainable Development Foundation, with backing from international and Arab entities, including the Arab League, Egypt’s Ministries of Youth and the Environment, the World Green Economy Organisation, the Egyptian Motorcycle Federation, and the Egyptian Automobile and Touring Club.

Abdo, a pioneering sustainability advocate, holds multiple world records in sustainable transport. Renowned as the first Arab to champion e-bikes and eco-friendly vehicles for long-distance travel, he had set his sights on achieving three new Guinness World Records during his COP29 journey.

Following the success of his previous journeys to the COP27 and COP28 summits, which garnered international acclaim and set multiple Guinness World Records, Abdo’s COP29 trip gained support from prominent international organisations. He holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Management and previously served as IBM’s director of corporate social responsibility. 

Regarding his commitment to sustainable transportation, he told Al-Ahram Weekly that “the journey began on 2 October from Dubai, making the first stop in Oman, where I met with the Egyptian ambassador and held discussions with representatives from key international organisations, including the Omani Environment Authority, the UN children’s agency UNICEF, and the UN World Food Programme, exploring potential avenues for collaboration.”

“In Muscat, I also visited an Egyptian school to deliver a lecture on climate change and the pivotal role of youth in combating this global challenge. I also visited the Egyptian community club in Oman.”

Abdo departed from Oman on 11 October, travelling through cities such as Seeb, Barka, Musannah, Suwaiq, Al-Khaboura, Sohar, Liwaa, and Shinas on his way northwards. After crossing the Omani-Emirati border on 13 October, he continued through the UAE, visiting cities including Kalba, Fujairah, Khor Fakkan, Dibba, Ras Al-Khaimah, Ajman, Umm Al-Quwain, Sharjah, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi. 

Upon his arrival in Abu Dhabi, he achieved his seventh Guinness World Record for visiting the largest number of cities on an e-bike in a continuous journey, totalling 25 cities.

“The high temperatures posed significant challenges, affecting both the bikes and us. To navigate these conditions, we would ride from dawn until noon, rest during the hottest part of the day, and resume the journey from late afternoon until midnight,” Abdo added.

He stated that crossing international borders by bike is a challenge, given that border crossings are traditionally geared towards vehicles with licence plates and documentation, requirements that do not typically apply to bikes. Additionally, the absence of dedicated bike routes between cities and countries forced him to travel on highways, which further intensified the journey’s risks.

As the journey progressed towards Turkey, Georgia, and Azerbaijan, Abdo expected the temperatures to drop significantly, with snowfall anticipated in some regions. This shift in climate necessitated certain adjustments, including outfitting the bike with special tyres and equipping the bikers with weather-appropriate safety gear, as well as reducing the number of riding hours. 

Reflecting on the beginning of his mission, Abdo said that “I began riding motorcycles 12 years ago as a hobby, with the goal of exploring new places and learning about different cultures, customs, and traditions. As I travelled across Egypt on my motorcycle, I saw firsthand the mounting impacts of climate change, environmental degradation, and the slow progress towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals [SDGs]. This experience ignited my commitment to raising awareness about sustainability, particularly around climate change and environmental issues, which affect every region I have visited.”

Adopting sustainable, eco-friendly practices like electric transportation is essential to curb carbon emissions and pollution, he stressed. “I am passionate about empowering young people and involving them in climate action. They are the demographic most affected by climate change, but they also have the energy and innovation to drive effective solutions,” he said.

ADVOCACY: Of the beginning of his environmental advocacy, Abdo said that “my first journey began in 2020 when I launched the Journey to 2030 Initiative to raise awareness of the SDGs and promote sustainable transportation solutions through electric bike journeys.”

“In 2021, I achieved my first Guinness World Record in New Alamein city in Egypt for the longest distance travelled by an e-bike within 24 hours. This trip was organised in collaboration with the UN Development Programme [UNDP], the Ministry of Environment, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.” The initiative highlighted the importance of sustainable cities and transportation, key SDGs Abdo has championed throughout his work.

In 2022, to mark World Environment Day, Abdo toured the Egyptian Delta and Canal Cities by e-bike, drawing attention to the severe impacts of climate change on one of Africa’s most vulnerable regions. This impactful journey was recognised as one of the UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) top five global activities for environmental preservation, he added. 

Abdo explained that the Journey to 2030 Initiative tries to empower people, especially youth, to contribute to the SDGs. Through e-bike journeys across cities and countries, Abdo and his team visit schools, universities, and community clubs to raise awareness about climate change and encourage sustainable practices. 

The initiative also includes educational programmes for young people and is developing a technological platform to facilitate knowledge exchange and promote climate action across Africa and the Middle East.

Noting the collaborative nature of these efforts, Abdo pointed to the critical involvement of international organisations such as UNICEF, the UNDP, and UNEP. Additionally, a range of Egyptian government ministries, civil society institutions, and private-sector entities have partnered in these efforts, creating a unified approach to sustainability. 

“Our goal,” he said, “is to integrate the efforts of all sectors to advance sustainability by empowering youth, fostering environmentally friendly policies, encouraging sustainable practices in communities, and sharing stories of success, opportunities, and challenges from each city I visit.”

“Raising awareness is a difficult task. Each audience requires a tailored approach that respects their unique culture, language, customs, and traditions,” he said. 

“We design events and activities to suit the specific needs of each group or city we engage with. To captivate younger audiences, we use the e-bike as a powerful symbol, and our Guinness World Record pursuits serve to draw global media attention to the cause. This recognition, has generated media value exceeding $2 million annually, which has been instrumental in attracting new partners and supporters for the events we organise.”

To broaden their outreach, Abdo and his team leverage social media, sharing stories and encounters from each city they visit to inspire sustainable choices among the public. They also participate in international conferences, where they share the insights gained from their travels, transforming each journey into an inspiring narrative that encourages global engagement in sustainability efforts.

On the challenges Abdo and his team encounter, he said that “securing adequate funding remains the primary challenge to scaling these initiatives. Despite support from various sponsors, expanding the project requires additional financial backing. Logistical challenges, including cross-border travel requirements such as visas, permits, and the coordination of activities in different countries, also add layers of complexity.”

“I recently resigned from my role as corporate social responsibility manager at IBM to fully dedicate myself to this mission. I am seeing impactful results materialise on the ground,” he said. 

Abdo’s Journey to 2030 Initiative has so far set four Guinness World Records through various activities, reaching millions of people globally through media and social media, and raising awareness about the critical need to address climate change.

He said that he was honoured by President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi during the COP27 Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh in recognition of the Journey to the Climate Summit, one of his initiatives. He was also honoured by the Arab League as a sustainability leader in the Arab world, and his Journey to COP28 was recognised as one of the world’s foremost climate action initiatives.

“The Journey to the Climate Summit COP27 remains my most formidable undertaking to date. I cycled 13,000 km across all of Egypt’s governorates in just 30 days to promote climate awareness. This effort won two Guinness titles,” Abdo concluded.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 21 November, 2024 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly uder the title: Biking for climate action