French President Francois Hollande after the month's global climate change summit in Paris says, "History is coming. In fact History is here"
Because of the high carbon world we live in today, it is up to small business owners like Michael Darchambeau co founder and chief executive of The Green Link to visualize a low carbon future.
The Green Link is a green delivery company whose methods of transportation do not require fossil fuel. "This is all about clean energy" he says, " We are delivering parcels around Paris without the emitting carbon dioxide."
The firm started with just €10,000 and launched in 2010 and now things have changed.
"We are delivering to 2,000 customers a day using 34 electric cargo bikes and seven electric small vans," say Michael.
A team of 44 full time and 10 part time employees deliver to huge multinationals to small traders around the city.
Michael claims a zero carbon footprint for his service, which performs the last leg of a journey for parcels, which may have begun, on the other side of the globe.
Michaels says that his mode of transportation delivers a zero carbon footprint and services usually always cover parcels, which may have begun on the other side of the globe and is in its last leg of the journey.
His company works with major courier companies that provide the final link within the delivery sequence. Customized electric cargo bikes use cycle lanes around Paris beating their four-wheel rivals.
The business plan was influenced on a trip to New York City. Michael says that he saw bicycle couriers carrying documents and realized the potential for bringing the idea to the next level.
"Today we need to go back to the roots but enjoying the technology of the day. And this is the future - to use technology in the service of a better development of the planet."
Paris proved to be the perfect choice to start the business because of its traffic, dubbed the most congested city in Europe.
Most of his employees have this as a second job. Since demand can be seasonal, at times he may use 100 couriers for peak seasons like Christmas and down to just 10 by the start of the New Year.
But according to Sony Kapoor from the think tank Re-Define the green transport isn't having it all its own way.
The plunge in oil prices has made it easier for businesses and consumers to carry on using fossil fuel. He argues that the governments should protect and make sure clean energy businesses survive and prosper in the future.
"This would be the perfect time to make sure the greening of the transport sector is encouraged." He says that radical action is needed.
"A number of governments in the developing world have taken the opportunity of falling oil prices to remove fossil fuel subsidies," he maintains.
"Surely if they can do it there, western countries can do it as well."
Michael in the other hand is determined to add on what he has created so far. He has an annual turnover of €1.3 million and is banking on going into profit by next year and plans to even stretch it further.
"It's much more important than business" he explains." The environment, when it's destroyed you cannot restore it."
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