Greek Eco Activist Emmanouil Completes Epic Run from Athens to Glasgow

Greek marathon runner Agis Emmanouil completed his epic run from Athens to Glasgow last week, sending a message to world leaders gathered for the UN’s Cop26 that time is running out for the planet.

Emmanouil reached Glasgow Green on Friday after an 87-day race through six different countries that was carried out almost entirely on foot, apart from two ferries and a train ride.

Just reached the finish line of the #2421ClimateRun. Glasgow, #COP26 here I am! Spread the word: #ClimateAction everywhere. No time to waste in saving our #LivingPlanet #TogetherForOurPlanet @perattikis @OikoSymmaxia @RunningNewsgr @WWFScotland @SumusCommunity @WWFGreece pic.twitter.com/1HSKkRonLu

— Agis Emmanouil – #2421ClimateRun (@Agis_Emmanouil) November 5, 2021

“The take-home message of this Climate Action and COP26 must be that we need environmental action everywhere. No time to just walk for the climate, we must “run” with all our energy,” he wrote after completing the race.

So happy to have reached the finish of the #2421ClimateRun Athens 🇬🇷 – Glasgow 🇬🇧.
The take-home message of this #ClimateAction and #COP26 must be that we need environmental action everywhere. No time to just walk for the climate, we must “run” with all our energy❤🌍 pic.twitter.com/7idRCkbWlP

— Agis Emmanouil – #2421ClimateRun (@Agis_Emmanouil) November 5, 2021

“Delighted to have welcomed Agis Emmanouil to Glasgow Green after running 2421 km (1,500 miles) from Athens to Glasgow! Raising awareness of climate action along the way. An astonishing feat, worthy of the ancient Olympiads!” The Lord Provost of Glasgow said in a tweet as he waited in the finishing line for the Greek activist.

Delighted to have welcomed @Agis_Emmanouil to Glasgow Green after running 2421km from Athens to Glasgow! Raising awareness of climate action along the way. An astonishing feat, worthy of the ancient Olympiads! #2421ClimateRun #COP26 @COP26 @WWFScotland @GreeceinUK pic.twitter.com/N8PEyU7jVW

— Lord Provost of Glasgow (@LordProvostGCC) November 8, 2021

The climate activist began preparing for his super marathon in December of 2020. He was inspired to take his message to the COP26 summit after watching David Attenborough’s documentary “A Life on Our Planet” – in which the 93-year-old natural historian shares his concerns about humans’ devastating impact on Earth.

Emmanouil sets a “strong example for the future generations”

Emmanouil started his journey at the Acropolis on August 11, staying in hotels and with friends and acquaintances along the way.

“I wanted to yell ‘Freedom’ when I arrived,” he was quoted by Scottish broadcaster STV as saying – a reference to the famous war cry of the protagonist in the epic film “Braveheart” – after he reached Glasgow and was crowned with a wreath by the Lord Provost of Glasgow, Philip Braat.

Emmanouil has set a “strong example for the future generations,” Greece’s ambassador to London said on Monday.

“After having run 2,421 km from Athens to Glasgow, actor and activist Agis Emmanouil is ready to return back home! Congratulations on setting such a strong example for future generations. Wishing you the best of luck during the upcoming marathon in Athens!,” Ambassador Ioannis Raptakis said in a tweet, attaching a photograph with the 52-year-old Emmanouil.

After having run 2.421 km from Athens to Glasgow, actor and activist Agis Emmanouil is ready to return back home! Congratulations for setting such a strong example for the future generations. Wishing you the best of luck during the upcoming marathon in Athens! pic.twitter.com/tWj1waNi9u

— Greek Embassy UK (@GreeceinUK) November 8, 2021

When asked recently why he was planning on running, rather than any other form of transportation, Emmanouil responded:

“Running is the reason Homo sapiens survived, in contrast to the Neanderthal… It is inscribed in our DNA and in our subconscious and it is also a natural force that is now being discovered and developed by more and more people across the length and breadth of the planet.

“Additionally, running is the most natural way to get somewhere, producing almost no carbon dioxide — which is the largest contributor to global warming,” the climate activist opined.