GAC UK delivers Nature's Baton on UK leg of Relay4Nature by The Ocean Race

GAC Pindar will provide The Ocean Race with a unique event logistics support package, tried and tested by the last two editions of the Race © James Tomlinson / GAC Pindar

On Monday 25 October, a carbon emission-free (zero CO2e) relay organised by shipping, logistics and marine service provider GAC UK will set off from Southampton's Town Quay for Glasgow, where it will deliver Nature's Baton to the United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26).

The baton is the symbol of the Relay4Nature initiative which champions the ocean and calls on leaders to take urgent action to protect nature. Developed by The Ocean Race, the round-the-world sailing race known as the toughest test of a team in sport, and in collaboration with UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for the Ocean, Peter Thomson, Relay4Nature has three goals to:

• Give the ocean a voice on the world stage about the critical issues affecting the planet
• Connect different but interconnected issues, including the climate and biodiversity crises, to drive a joined-up approach to tackling them
• Gather messages from ministers, business leaders, royals, sailors and ocean lovers to world leaders, calling for them to radically increase their action to support a healthy and productive ocean.

The riders are employees and suppliers of GAC UK, the company behind marine sports, leisure and event logistics expert GAC Pindar, the Official Logistics Provider for The Ocean Race. They will be supported by Volvo Cars, supplying hybrid electric vehicles as emergency back-up. If a cyclist cannot complete their part of the relay due to injury or illness, it will be finished by a Volvo XC40 Recharge Plug-in Hybrid T5 FWD Inscription Pro Automatic, using public recharge points where necessary.

The Route

Why is GAC UK involved with Relay4Nature?

GAC UK was inspired by the environmental focus of the previous edition of The Ocean Race for which GAC Pindar provided logistics services to the race for the 2nd consecutive time. It launched its corporate sustainability strategy earlier this year, committing to significantly reduce environmental impact, improve the well-being of its people, and influence stakeholders to do the same. That strategy outlines GAC UK's sustainability objectives aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a target date of 2025. Those SDGs form the framework of the company's ISO 26000 Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) management system.

Delivering Nature's Baton to COP26 by a transport method predominantly powered by people, requires a massive physical and mental effort from the riders, underlining the company's commitment to improving the physical and mental wellbeing of its employees, as well as reducing carbon emissions.

Where has Nature's Baton been so far?

Nature's Baton started its journey in May 2021 in Klaipeda, Lithuania. After featuring at the country's major sustainability event - Green Course Conference - it was taken by boat to the start of The Ocean Race Europe. During the Prologue and the Race itself, Relay4Nature collected messages from sailors, local dignitaries and ocean advocates. After the Race finished in Genova, Italy, in June, the baton has helped to give the ocean a voice at a number of events, including IUCN World Conservation Congress in Marseille, France.

Who has been involved so far?

Ministers, business leaders, royals, sailors and a diverse mix of ocean lovers have all left a message for world leaders, including:

* HSH Prince Albert of Monaco
* UN High Level Climate Action Champion, COP26, Nigel Topping
* Minister for the Environment & Climate Action for Portugal, João Pedro Matos Fernandes
* Writer, photographer and entrepreneur Jessica Nabongo
* Minister of Climate Change for Pakistan, Malik Amin Aslam
* Director General of WWF, Marco Lambertini
* Teams taking part in The Ocean Race Europe