Carbon-free to the Cape

If you’re overtaken by a spate of futuristic cars speeding south through Namibia in January 2009, don’t despair for the planet. The key rule for participants in this planned Zero Rally Africa will be: “Emit no CO2”. And their green machines, travelling 250 miles a day from Victoria Falls to Cape Town, will be following that route expressly to draw attention to the need for renewable energy sources in the developing world. Their arrival at the finishing line will coincide with a world conference and exhibition on that very issue. The competition is open to electric, solar, hydrogen and biofuel vehicles – and to hybrids, as long as they burn biodiesel or bioethanol. But organiser Peter Collingwood concedes that competitors coming from across the globe will be causing carbon emissions on their way to Africa. What they can’t eliminate, he accepts, they’ll just have to offset, by putting cash into carbon-saving projects elsewhere. Zero Rally Africa, www.zerorallyafrica.com

19 September 2007

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