2. Robert Swan and the 2041 Foundation

Meet the man behind it all - Robert Swan, O.B.E.

Robert Swan, O.B.E. (Image credit: 2041 ClimateForce)

Earning his place alongside the great adventurers and explorers that have tested their physical and mental strength to the limit in the planet’s most hostile environments, Robert Swan is the first person in history to walk to both the North and South Poles.

On 11 January 1986, 29-year old Robert Swan had successfully trekked 900 miles (over 1448km) across Antarctica to the South Geographic Pole. At the time, it was the longest unassisted Antarctic march in history. During this journey, Robert's face was severely burned and his eyes were bleached, and only upon return was he told that this was because he had been walking directly beneath the then newly discovered hole in the ozone layer. On both expeditions, he experienced, first-hand, the effects of climate change and environmental damage on the Polar icecaps. Challenged by Jacques Cousteau – a French naval officer, explorer, conservationist, researcher of the sea and water life, and inventor of open circuit scuba – 50-year mission to help protect Antarctica from climate change, Swan’s lifetime goal became to work for the preservation of the Antarctica as the “last great wilderness” on earth. Cousteau urged Swan to engage young people and promote the use of renewable energy, leading Swan to found the 2041 Foundation.

Dedicated to the preservation of the polar regions, the mission of the 2041 Foundation is “to engage businesses and communities on climate science, personal leadership, and the promotion of sustainable practices”. The 2041 Mission is named after the year in which the Antarctic Treaty – which demands the international protection of the continent from further human impact – can be renegotiated. Through this Mission, Swan and his son, Barney, aim to reach out to the global community and send a clear message about the need for an international approach to sustainability issues, seeking to inspire and engage the youth, politicians and business leaders to take action in the fight against climate change.

(Learn more by visiting https://www.2041.com/about-us/)

Over the years, Swan has greatly contributed to preserving the environment and obtaining global cooperation through education, working through his expeditions and lectures to inform, engage and inspire the next generation of leaders to take responsibility, live and work sustainably, and take action now in policy development and future technologies.

Swan continues to inspire and motivate people worldwide. His work has been recognized through his appointment as UN Goodwill Ambassador for Youth, a Visiting Professorship of the School of Environment at Leeds University, and in 1994, he became Special Envoy to the Director General of UNESCO. He is the 2015 Winner of the Humanitarian Innovation Lifetime Achievement Award, 2017 winner of the UN NOVUS Award for contributing to 17 Sustainable Development Goals, and holds many more awards and recognitions. His expeditions to both Poles demonstrate that individuals have the power to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals through perseverance, determination, and commitment.

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/b89ecf_b8ab7733ac75424ca7c8de24cc25ef74/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

See the full video here: https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_swan_let_s_save_the_last_pristine_continent?language=en