A British couple who set off around the world to promote call for action on climate change may have become stranded in eastern Europe because of border closes, but they believe recent events show that the world can make changes if the desire is there.
Adam Reed reports.
When Scottish cyclist Mike Elm and his British partner Rosie Watson set out on worldwide journeys to find stories of climate activism last year, they never expected their journey to be brought to an abrupt stop under lockdown in Kosovo.
Elm and Watson planned to travel thousands of miles across Europe and Asia, but were left stranded when borders were closed.
Elm said the steps countries have taken to protect citizens in recent weeks show society is capable of change.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) 32-YEAR-OLD CLIMATE ACTIVIST AND CYCLIST, MIKE ELM, SAYING: “There is a lot more capacity for society to change very quickly and right now we need society to change quickly and positively to tackle the climate crisis." Although they were offered help to return to the UK, the couple decided to wait for the crisis to pass and continue on with their journeys.
Special permission had to be obtained from the Kosovo authorities for their interview with Reuters.
Their modes of transport may differ, as he cycles by road and she walks or runs overland for their ‘New Story’ blog journeys, but their message is the same.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) 32-YEAR-OLD CLIMATE ACTIVIST AND CYCLIST, MIKE ELM, SAYING: "People really need to change their mindset on what climate action means, rather than necessarily the actual actions; there's so many and they can come in so many different forms” One positive in the short term, at least for their cause, is the cleaner air as a result of reduced emissions and a near-total grounding of air travel.