From Valencia to Paris: The two-wheeled Climate-KIC’s emissary shares his experience of the “March Solutions to Climate Change”

“March Solutions to Climate Change “in bike from Valencia to Paris has been, without a doubt, the most important journey of my life. Not only to share a unique experience with the fifty fellow travellers (and more than four hundred who joined us along the 1,800-kilometer), but because I feel protagonist of a world demand: request an agreement by the climate that attempts to save the planet.

Over 29 days the March for the climate has toured Spain and France through 21 different cities, with a same feature in all of them: the warm and affectionate welcome citizens, both associations and also official institutions such as local councils.   Cyclists and environmental associations of the different cities that we visited have welcomed us warmly, often even inviting us to lunch and dinner, helping us to get spaces where to sleep and organizing protest marches bicycling cities we visited.

I would like to highlight the welcome we had in Bordeaux, where the Association ‘ Cycles & Manivelles’ looked for forty-four families and distributed each of us in a different House. Also the majority of municipalities received us warmly and made us part of its explicit support, in most cases supported by all representatives of the various political parties.

As Ambassador for Climate-Kic representative, I am proud of the unconditional support that they have given me along the entire route, making dissemination of the work done every day, and being interested in all those who participated in the March Solutions to Climate Change. Its support has been vital to feel a little more human heat, above all, the days of intense cold, rain and even snow in which we had to pedal. From here my tribute to those who have followed throughout this long journey every day worrying about us.

The route, kilometer to kilometer, ride to ride, has allowed me to see the differences between the populations, and also, most importantly, what unites us, a big concern for the  climate change, either on the Castilian plain, as in the mountains of the Basque country, on the coast of the Bay of Biscay, in the French zone of the Landa and the countryside , as in the fabulous area of the Valley of the Loire castles or historical cities.  Although much seduce us with its high churches, small French towns and landscapes, we can’t forget the joy that we felt to be surrounded by animals that we contemplated in our way: chickens, horses, cows, oxen and goats.

It has not been easy, but we have kept our promise. The truth is that these wonderful days we spent with all of our friends, have been the result of a great teamwork before, and done with careful planning and saving many difficulties. Only with the union of persons and organizations there are responses on climate change.

Finally in Paris, social movements were able to have the last word and our movement joined thousands (more than seven hundred thousand) people in the large demonstration in Paris to demand climate justice. We also deliver in the COP21 authorities of the thousands of signatures collected over two years by the AMA Association to achieve a fair and binding climate deal.   Great friendships, joy, smiles, some other tear, fatigue, effort, but above all great emotion, that is what I have been able to share in this exceptional March. Therefore, I just want to thank Climate-Kic for helping me to live this experience.