Ali Abdo gears up for “Ride to COP28” after Guinness Record journey of COP27

07 / 02 / 2023

By Marwa Nassar - -

Ali Abdo – Egypt’s Sustainability Ambassador, Climate Activist and World Records Holder – gears up for “Ride to COP28” from Egypt to the UAE after his “Ride to COP27” won the Guinness World Records for the longest journey by an electric motorcycle.

Abdo – who managed to break World Guinness Records several times – became an icon for promoting Egypt’s efforts to protect the environment and achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In June 2017, Ali Abdo was the first Arab to break the Guinness World Record for the greatest distance on a motocross bike in 24 hours by an individual through achieving a record of 613.59 km (381.27 miles). This adventure took place in the Red Sea resort city of El Gouna.

In September 2021, Abdo copped the Guinness Records title for recording the greatest distance on an electric motorcycle in 24 hours (individual) at 919.87 km (571.5 miles). The adventure was the first of its kind to be held in Egypt’s New Alamein City which represents a model of Egypt’s sustainable cities. The event was held as part of the presidential initiative “Go Green” and under the patronage of the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Environment.

On the 2022 World Environment Day, Ali Abdo rode his electric motorcycle through Egyptian cities around the River Nile to meet students and government officials and deliver talks focused on the impacts of the climate crisis.

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) aired a special LIVE broadcast of Ali Abdo’s tour in Egyptian cities among five key events marking the World Environment Day.

By touring Egypt on an electric motorbike, Abdo sought to document the impact of Climate Change on the region, and hoped to accelerate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Ali Abdo’s COP27 journey was 12,749.82 km across Egypt, from 10 October till 8 November 2022 with an aim to raise awareness for climate change.

Ministers Ashraf Sobhy of Youth and Sports and Yasmine Fouad of Environment honored Abdo for his “Ride to COP27”

On Twitter, Abdo wrote “Honored to be recognized by his Excellency Dr Ashraf Sobhy, the Minister of Youth and Sports, for our ride to COP27. We strive to make a positive impact and raise awareness for the importance of taking action on climate change.”

Abdo added on Twitter that he is deeply grateful for the support of Egyptian Environment Minister Dr Yasmine Fouad for “#TheRidetoCOP28, #Egypt #Jordan #ksa #Kuwait #Bahrain #Qatar, #Oman #UAE, #COP28” which is due to be held in the UAE from 30th November to 12th December 2023.

Ride to COP27:

The “Ride to COP27” was from Abu Simbel in Upper Egypt to Sharm El Sheikh, the venue of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).

Abdo – the founder of “Ride to COP27” initiative – had announced that the initiative was triggered in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

The “Ride to COP27” was meant to promote awareness on the untapped opportunity of using renewable energy sources in realizing the net zero ambitions.

During the ride, several activities were organized along the road in various Egyptian governorates.

The activities included documenting the impact of climate change on agriculture, industry and other walks of life as well as the importance of youth participation in climate action. Competitions were organized to incentivize youths’ contribution to the fight against climate change.

The “Ride to COP27” aimed to raise people’s awareness on climate change in order to join climate action and send a message to heavy-weight counties to support developing states and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Abdo declared the key performance indicators (KPIs) of the “Ride to COP27” are “Keep People Informed, Keep People Involved, Keep People Interested and Keep People Empowered.”

Ali Abdo wrote on Linedin “I am honored and delighted to have had the opportunity to meet His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, at the end of #theRideToCOP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh. “

“The journey was not only an opportunity to promote sustainable transportation and raise awareness about climate change, but also a chance for me to share my thoughts and ideas with thousands of people I met during the 30-day journey across all Egyptian governorates,” he added.

“As the founder of the COP27 ride, I am proud to have organized this unique initiative that showcases the importance of reducing our carbon footprint and involving individuals in this approach. During this journey, we broke two world records: the world’s longest journey on an electric motorcycle and the longest electric motorcycle journey in a single country. I am looking forward to continuing this effort with the upcoming Ride to #COP28,” he said.

Ali Abdo seeks through the “Ride to COP28” to proceed with his efforts to promote climate action and encourage more people to join the sustainability march.

Abdo has previously explained that “If you’re going to make a change, start with the people. If you’re going to transform people’s behavior, start with awareness. If you’re going to raise awareness, start by highlighting the impact on individuals’ life.”

Ali Abdo said on Twitter that “Small changes in our daily habits can make a big impact on sustainability. Let’s all do our part to protect the planet.”

“Addressing climate change requires collective efforts, but cultural differences can impact our perception and motivation. Education plays a crucial role in shaping future generations into responsible citizens. Incorporating Sustainability & Individualism can drive positive change,” he concluded on Twitter.