The Greenhouse | Across Europe with an electric van: let's see if that works

A journalist and a team from several Dutch media outlets are embarking on a journey from the Netherlands to a UN climate summit in Antalya, Turkey, using an electric van. They chose this route to reduce their personal carbon footprint and to document how different European countries are experiencing climate change and managing the transition to electric mobility. The journey, which spans eight countries, serves as an investigation into how various nations address the climate crisis, from hydropower projects in the Balkans to coal mining transitions in Bulgaria.

While the Netherlands leads Europe in public charging infrastructure, the team faces significant logistical challenges in Eastern Europe, where fast-charging stations are less common. Preparations have involved extensive research into charging apps and hotel infrastructure to ensure the trip is feasible. Beyond the logistics of electric travel, the group aims to report on regional dilemmas, such as the impact of climate policy on wild rivers and local ecosystems, providing a broader perspective on the global climate transition.