Round Britain Climate Challenge – The NEN

Sacha Dench returns to Scotland to meet climate change innovators

UN Ambassador for the Convention on Migratory Species, Sacha Dench visiting Celtic Renewables, Scotland’s first biorefinery plant meeting Martin Tangney OBE, Founder of Celtic Renewables at the new plant in Falkirk.

UN Ambassador for the Convention on Migratory Species, Sacha Dench, touched down in Scotland yesterday as part of her Round Britain climate challenge to raise awareness of the effects of climate change … and shine a light on the innovators working to solve the crisis.

Flying in on an electric paramotor, Sacha flew over the Kelpies before landing nearby and visiting Celtic Renewables – Scotland’s first biorefinery plant – where she met Martin Tangney OBE, Founder of Celtic Renewables, Gillian McKee (MSP), Linlith-Go–Solar, Climate Conscious Entrepreneurs Edinburgh and Fuel Change apprentices and pupils from Larbert High School to talk about their My Carbon Zero Project.

Sacha also met Mark Stewart, Head of Energy, Infrastructure and Sustainability at Johnston Carmichael, Elaine Ford from Planet Rewild and Dr. Murray Collins, CEO of Space Intelligence during her ‘flying visit’.

In June, Sacha began her world record expedition from the host city of COP26, Glasgow. Since then, she has flown across Britain stopping off to talk to people involved in addressing the effects of climate change. A compilation of these stories will be presented at COP26 the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November.

Sacha Dench said: “I am delighted to be back in Scotland and visiting the beautiful capital and surrounds. I am looking forward to meeting people who are truly focused on answers to the climate crisis – not problems – and as such are inspirations to all.

“We’re trying to answer the question: ‘We drove the Industrial Revolution; can we drive the Green Revolution too? As part of this expedition, we have been investigating how climate change is affecting different regions of the country and showing in a visually stunning and exciting way what is happing to help cut carbon and preserve and restore our environment.”

Professor Martin Tangney OBE Founder of Celtic Renewables said: “We were thrilled to host Sacha here at Celtic Renewables as part of this ambitious round Britain Climate Challenge.

“In our view, COP26 must move us from justifying “why” we need to tackle climate change, to determining “how”, and Sacha’s expedition shining a spotlight on the people and initiatives helping us achieve Net Zero, is helping set this direction of travel.

“Celtic Renewables firmly believe we are part of the Net Zero future, and in bringing our first plant into operation we will show that low-carbon biotechnology can be both commercially sustainable and environmentally sustainable. Celtic Renewables is part of a global bio-based economy, and our patented technology can and will play an important role in achieving Net Zero across the world .”

Celtic Renewables patented low-carbon technology converts unwanted and low-value biological materials, such as by-products from whisky distilling, into high-value, low carbon chemicals which can replace petrochemicals currently used in the thousands of products we use every day from cleaning materials to food production.

Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn concluded: “We are honoured that Sacha will take in the view of our world-famous Kelpies as part of her round Britain climate challenge.

“Falkirk Council is committed to working towards Net Zero by 2030 and is a key partner in the recently launched Forth Valley for Net Zero campaign, an initiative which brings public and private sectors together and will highlight all the great initiatives by businesses, educational establishments, and our local communities to help us achieve this target.”

Sacha hopes to succeed in achieving a Guinness World Record for the greatest distance flown by electric paramotor in a 30-day period.

‘Human Swan’ visits Carnoustie

● Sacha Dench (The Human Swan) is currently undertaking a World Record attempt as part of the Round Britain Climate Challenge and visited The AIG Women’s Open this week
● Flying around Britain on a journey powered solely by green energy, Sacha will be encouraging people to make their own individual commitments to slow climate change

Together with its partners ekko and HELPFUL, Mastercard has pledged to donate and plant 75,000 trees in support of the Round Britain Climate Challenge, the first ever circumnavigation attempt of mainland Britain with an electric paramotor.

Equating to roughly 25 trees planted for every mile of the trip, the Mastercard pledge made alongside its Priceless Planet Coalition partners is part of the company’s ongoing drive to tackle climate change, encourage sustainability, and equip its network to be a positive force for the environment. Working with Conservation International, trees will be planted in Sacha’s original home country of Australia as well as Kenya and Brazil.

As an official Patron of The AIG Women’s Open and to celebrate the expedition, Mastercard brought Sacha Dench, known as The Human Swan, together with Mastercard ambassador and golf pro Brooke Henderson at Carnoustie Golf Links on Wednesday to highlight how we can come together to battle climate change.

The R&A also partners with Mastercard on sustainable practices. On site at the Championship Course, water stations have been installed as part of The Open Water Initiative.

The initiative was first launched in 2019 during The 148^th Open at Royal Portrush with the aim to remove all single use plastic water bottles at the Championship and has proved successful with 244,000 single-plastic bottles saved collectively in 2019 and 2021 so far at the Mastercard sponsored events.

Carnoustie will be equipped with contactless modules for fans to make voluntary donations of £1.50 to the Priceless Planet Coalition.

Scott Abrahams, Senior Vice President, Business Development, Mastercard UK & Ireland said, “We are proud to pledge 75,000 trees in support of the Round Britain Climate Challenge.

“It is an exciting and pioneering expedition, tackling climate change head-on and crucially raising awareness in the UK. At Mastercard we share the same common goal which includes our Priceless Planet Coalition commitments to restore 100 million trees by 2025. Today is another step towards achieving that goal alongside our fintech and sporting partners, to create a greener, more sustainable planet.”

Sacha Dench, Round Britain Climate Challenge pilot, commented: “Britain drove the Industrial Revolution, can we drive the Green Revolution too? This is one of the questions that the Round Britain Climate Challenge is trying to answer and we all have a part to play.

“I am delighted that Mastercard is undertaking this pledge to plant so many trees – such a vitally important factor in combating the climate emergency – whilst also taking action at events such as The Women’s Open.”

Brooke Henderson, Mastercard ambassador and golf professional, added: “It was great meeting Sacha today to hear more about how we can tackle climate change, not just in the UK but around the world.

“The Women’s Open, and golf more broadly, is an opportunity to raise awareness so I’m pleased to see The R&A and Mastercard taking action to be more sustainable.”

Oli Cook, CEO & Co-Founder of ekko, said: “We’re proud to support Sacha and The Round Britain Climate Challenge with this pledge to donate and plant trees.

“We’re committed to positive change and turning the tide on climate change at ekko and Sacha is doing just that by raising awareness and encouraging climate action.”

Evan Michaels, Co-Founder and CEO of Helpful commented: “We are excited to support Sasha in this great expedition. It aligns perfectly with our mission here at HELPFUL to raise awareness about climate change and sustainable living to millions of people around the country.

“We want to inspire people to consider their shopping choices and along with our pledge to plant 75,000 tree with our partners at Priceless Planet Coalition, we hope to play a small part in creating a healthier planet.”

Sacha Dench, who set off in June, is leading the 3000+ mile journey and world record attempt for the longest ever flight in an electric paramotor. She has been stopping frequently, talking with, filming, and gathering information from industry, innovators and entrepreneurs, local heroes, communities, schools, farmers and individuals – anybody interested in or involved in addressing the effects of climate change in their areas.

A compilation of these stories will be presented at COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow in November.

Fans at Carnoustie and people across the UK can Start Something Priceless by donating a tree via the Mastercard Priceless Planet page. Mastercard will match every tree donated on this link.

Joanna Lumley supports Sacha Dench on circumnavigation of Britain by paramotor

Joanna Lumley, actor, presenter and activist has announced her support for Sacha Dench – known as the Human Swan – in her intrepid circumnavigation of mainland Britain by electric paramotor.

Joanna Lumley came across Sacha’s planned climate expedition through a crowdfunder call out for the expedition and was inspired to try and become more involved.

Joanna decided to just call Sacha, and as a result of that conversation Joanna will be following Sacha and meeting up with her at various places around the country as Sacha completes the Round Britain Climate Challenge.

They will be filming a documentary together for ITV as the journey progresses, in which Joanna will be the presenter.

Joanna said: “Sacha Dench’s adventures are stories you can only dream of – facing down all barriers and blessed with the courage of a lioness she literally soars into history books, and inspires everyone who has the luck to follow her phenomenal challenges.

“Sacha is clawing attention towards the greatest crisis mankind has faced in recorded time.

“Her journey is going to be irresistible and I shall be following her, on charts and in person, I am so proud to support her: with your help we shall be the wind beneath her wings.”

Sacha added: “ Joanna’s call came totally out of the blue and it’s just fantastic that Joanna is so supportive of this mission to look at how climate change is affecting different regions of the country – and highlight the amazing things that individuals, community organisations and companies are doing to combat it.

“We want to get everybody involved and one of our aims is to get 140,001 people to take personal climate action between 18 June and 17th July through Count Us In https://www.count-us-in.org/ – so please sign up now! If we achieve this number we’ll get a Guinness World Record too!

“I am so looking forward Joanna joining me to meet many of the inspiring people along the route.”

Round Britain Climate Challenge takes flight

‘Human Swan’ Sacha Dench has taken off on courageous circumnavigation of Britain by paramotor
Sacha takes off from Scottish beach on Round Britain Climate Challenge

After several delays caused by bad weather and technical issues with the paramotor Sacha Dench has taken off on the first ever circumnavigation of mainland Britain by electric paramotor.

She took off from the beach at Stevenson on the west coast of Scotland heading south along the coast on her 3,000 mile + journey around Britain – ending back in Glasgow in around 12 weeks’ time.

She will be landing frequently, and with her ground crew will be talking with, filming, and gathering information from industry, innovators and entrepreneurs, local heroes, communities, schools, farmers and individuals – anybody involved in addressing the effects of climate change in their areas.

A compilation of these stories will be presented at COP26 in Glasgow in November.

Sacha flying along the Western Coast of Scotland

Sacha flying over Culzean Castle

Sacha flying over Turnberry Golf Course

The journey is set inspire and excite people in all walks of life to get behind climate change actions in Britain – to get involved at local level in whatever small way to help reduce Carbon emissions.

Sacha says: “We need to get 140,001 people to take personal climate action between 18 June and 17th July to get a Guinness World Record. There’s a great way of doing this through Count Us In https://www.count-us-in.org/ – so please sign up NOW!

“As well as investigating how climate change is affecting different regions of the country, we will be showing, in a visually stunning and exciting way – from the air, ground and underwater – what is happing to help cut carbon and preserve and restore our environment.

“We’ll be finding the likely and unlikely heroes and discovering where and what works. I am so looking forward to meeting all the hundreds of inspiring people along the route.”