The Road2COP31 cycle campaign kicks off in Aachen on 25 October. Organised by Misereor, the Climate Alliance and the European Climate Pact Germany, as well as the ADFC district associations in Düsseldorf and Bonn/Rhein-Sieg, the initiative brings people along the route to the COP31 World Climate Conference together to discuss climate justice and the consequences of the climate crisis.
On her way to the COP31 World Climate Conference in Antalya, Misereor climate expert Madeleine Wörner will cycle around 1,000 kilometres from Aachen to Passau alongside fellow cyclists, before continuing the journey to Turkey by train and bus. “With Road2COP31, we want to address key issues in climate policy and link them to the experiences and perspectives of people along the route,” emphasises Wörner. The most pressing questions will be explored at various stops along the route:
Aachen I 25 October 2026: How do we get people moving?
Coinciding with the presentation of the German Environment Prize, the Road2COP31 cycle campaign will set off at 8.30 am in front of the Eurogress Aachen. To kick things off , Oliver Krischer, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister for the Environment, Heiko Thomas, Aachen’s Deputy Mayor for Climate and the Environment, and Angelika Zahrnt, Honorary Chair of BUND, will address the participants in the cycle-along campaign.
Frankfurt | 27 October 2026: Where will the money for the transition come from?
A stop on the 13th Fair Finance Week: this session will examine the role of banks, investors and the political framework in financing a socially just and climate-friendly transition. Together with Klara Butz from the environmental and human rights organisation urgewald, there will be a critical discussion on which financial flows promote or hinder this transition.
Munich | 1 November 2026: How can the energy transition gain momentum now?
As part of Munich’s ‘Klimaherbst’ (Climate Autumn) programme, there will be a discussion on how the energy transition, social engagement and political decisions interact. The event also marks the launch of a new Munich alliance for the Fossil Fuel Treaty, of which Misereor is a founding member. The renowned environmental and civil rights activist Kumi Naidoo (President of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative) will provide the expert input.
Passau | 3 November 2026: How do we take the climate demands forward?
With its arrival in Passau, the German leg of Road2COP31 reaches its milestone. Here, the symbolic handover of the baton takes place to Christoph Fuhrbach. As a member of Misereor’s advisory board and Renovabis representative for the Diocese of Speyer, he is sending a strong message of solidarity as he continues the journey towards COP31 in Antalya.
The stages highlight the breadth of the challenges. Climate expert Wörner emphasises: “With Road2COP31, we are campaigning for urgent climate policy decisions. We want to encourage political decision-makers to actively set the course for global climate justice and a sustainable energy transition. We must step up our efforts on climate protection now to ensure that the transition is fair and sustainable.”
