Travel Matters is always searching for new ways to reduce its carbon footprint and seek day-to-day sustainable alternatives, mainly through our Travel Matters Campaign to Make Travel Matter. Years ago we were inspired by Dale Vince and his business ‘Ecotricity Ltd’. Today, Ecotricity specialise in selling Green Energy to consumers that it primarily generates from its 87.2 megawatt wind power portfolio. In recent years we have been encouraged by their production of Green Energy from the Sun, particularly their Sun Parks in Leicestershire and Devon that use the latest bifacial solar panel technology.

Upon further investigation we were pleasantly surprised to learn that Morocco is becoming a key global player due to its world-leading solar arrays. Did you know that Morocco has the world's largest concentrated solar power plant? The ‘Ouarzazate Solar Power Station’ is a huge 3,000 hectare solar farm that has been cleverly positioned at the gateway to the Sahara Desert, which enables it to produce 580 megawatts – thus, saving the planet from over 760,000 tonnes of carbon emissions! The irony, however, is that the countries who are most vulnerable to climate change and whose carbon emissions are tiny compared to industrialised nations, are leading the way as sustainability heroes! Morocco faces tough environmental challenges, like; scorching heat, soaring temperatures, droughts, coastal flooding and increasing food and water scarcity. However, all of this has not stopped Morocco, who now proudly produces renewables that make up almost two-fifths of its electricity capacity. Due to their impressive achievements to decarbonise, Morocco has seen overseas investment from the likes of ‘Xlinks Morocco-UK Power Project’, which endeavour to deliver 8% of Britain’s electricity supplies. This will be achieved with a 3,800km cable that links Morocco with the United Kingdom and will be able to supply power for around 7 million homes by 2030.

Morocco’s commitment to sourcing alternates forms of energy was further rewarded in 2016, when the country became a host nation for ‘Formula E’. Since then, Marrakesh ePrix’s circuit, the ‘International Automobile Moulay El Hassan’, has been featured four more times in a ‘Formula E’ season.

What does a ‘Formula E’ and electric cars have to do with Travel Matters Campaign to Make Travel Matter? Well, Travel Matters doesn’t have a particular interest in ‘Formula E’, but we are pleased to see more environmentally conscious variations on ‘Formula 1’. We have been championing the use of EV’s (Electric Vehicles) for a long time now – ‘Why Electric Vehicles (EVs) are here to stay’ and our collaboration with ‘Rolzo Ltd.’. In April 2023, Karen (our CEO & Founder) was contacted by Khalid Dahbi; a Chef, Philanthropist and Entrepreneur. Mr. Dahbi invited Karen & Travel Matters to be part of his ‘Kingdom to Kingdom Rally 2023’ – the first green rally of its kind, with the purpose of highlighting the necessity for EVs and for the use of green energy vehicles. The rally starts in London, with its finish line being in Morocco’s Red City, Marrakech (29th May to 3rd June 2023).

What Travel Matters wants to achieve is to highlight how electric vehicles can shape a greener future, as well as support Mr. Dahbi’s chosen charities, which he will be raising funds for during the rally. These include:

‘Association Dar Al Atfal Al Ouafae’ - for the mentally struggling, homeless children and youth as well as women in difficult circumstances
‘Ben Guerir Fondation Orient-Occident’ -its mission is to come towards the difficulties of young people from disadvantaged neighbourhoods and to promote employability by setting up socio-educational and professional training structures throughout Morocco.
‘Marrakech- Alms of Africa’- charitable food distribution for poverty-stricken people in Marrakech.
‘Rabat Association Malaika’ - for children with Down syndrome in Rabat.

Photo Credit, Association Dar Al Atfal Al Ouafae

Photo Credit, Marrakech-Alms of Africa

Photo Credit, Ben Guerir Fondation Orient-Occident

As well as Karen, ‘The Kingdom to Kingdom Rally 2023’ has some of the following prominent figures supporting Mr. Dahbi; French Montana (Rapper & Musician), Graeme Souness (Former Professional Footballer & Manager), Kelly Brook (Media Personality), Lizzie Cundy (Philanthropist), Paul G. Andrews (Producer & Writer), Rhonda Parouty (President of ‘Empowering a Billion Women’), Roo Irvine (BBC Presenter) and many more…

We kindly ask that you take some time to learn a little more about ‘The Kingdom to Kingdom Rally 2023’ & Mr. Dahbi and consider making a charitable donation to his Just Giving fundraising page.

Travel Matters life in the fast lane with ‘The Kingdom to Kingdom Rally 2023’