Geneva, 18 August 2010
- Is it possible to complete a tour of the
world in 80 days with electric cars?
Teams from three continents
have decided to find out, in a modern, eco-friendly
twist on Jules Verne's classic adventure.
The cars are currently heading towards Germany,
after starting their adventure from the
United Nations building in Geneva, Switzerland,
on Monday.
Once the near-silent
engines kicked in at the Palais des Nations,
the futuristic vehicles set off on what
organisers claim is the "longest and
greenest race" of all time. All emissions
produced by the Zero Race team during their
trip will be off-set through investments
in renewable energy projects.
The race is the brainchild
of adventurer and environmentalist Louis
Palmer, who, in 2008, became the first person
to circumnavigate the globe in a solar car.
This time around, Palmer hopes the four
teams from Switzerland, Australia, South
Korea and Germany will help raise awareness
about green transport and renewable energy.
The race will also include
a pit-stop at UN Climate Change Conference
to be held in Cancun, Mexico from 29 November
- 10 December 2010.
In a letter of support
to Louis Palmer, United Nations Under-Secretary
General and UNEP Executive Director Achim
Steiner wrote, "I have followed with
interest the environmental aspect of the
race. Such a clean-technology initiative
underscores the importance of individual
efforts in building a green, low carbon
future for the world."
UNEP representative
Ivonne Higuero was among those waving off
the electric cars from the starting grid
in Geneva. "People around the world
must understand the urgency of implementing
concrete solutions to turn the challenges
of high fuel prices, increased imports and
climate change into an opportunity for the
world economies, businesses and citizens.
The exciting, live experience of the Zero
Race shows that renewable energies are reliable,
affordable and ecologically responsible"
said Ms. Higuero.
UNEP will follow the
Zero Race teams closely and report on their
progress and challenges along the way.
The organisers hope
the cars will return to Geneva in January
2011 - having completed their trail-blazing
route and earning themselves a place in
the environmental record books.
