Thirty-six environmentalists were four weeks into their “grueling voyage” by sailboat to Chile for a United Nations climate change summit, COP25, when they leaned the event had been canceled.

The activists, known as the Sail to the COP group, took a cue from young climate change figurehead Greta Thunberg and opted for a sailboat ride over a plane ride. According to CNN, Thunberg expressed her approval of Sail to the COP via Twitter at the end of October.

The activists, who left from Amsterdam, were halfway to Chile when they found out the devastating news.

“After a long assessment process, the Chilean Government has made the painful decision of not to host the Climate Summit COP25,” the COP25 Twitter account posted Wednesday.

After a long assessment process, the Chilean Government has made the painful decision of not to host the Climate Summit COP25. pic.twitter.com/bH0f1nOv0R — COP25 (@COP25CL) October 30, 2019

As noted by CNN, Chilean President Sebastián Piñera pulled out as host of the summit “amid protests that have left at least 20 people dead and led to the resignation of eight cabinet ministers.”

“The Sail to the Group participants prove to be a strong and reliant group after four intense weeks of sailing,” the climate change activists posted in a statement on Thursday. “After the initial shock and sadness the news brought, everyone came together determined to continue what we started: putting the climate impact of aviation on the international agenda.”

Sail to the COP is now headed for Belém, Brazil, instead.