Robert Charles Swan,

OBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

, FRGS (born 28 July 1956) is the first person to walk to both

poles Poles,, ; singular masculine: ''Polak'', singular feminine: ''Polka'' or Polish people, are a West Slavic nation and ethnic group, who share a common history, culture, the Polish language and are identified with the country of Poland i ...

He is currently an advocate for the protection of

Antarctica Antarctica () is Earth's southernmost and least-populated continent. Situated almost entirely south of the Antarctic Circle and surrounded by the Southern Ocean, it contains the geographic South Pole. Antarctica is the fifth-largest cont ...

and

renewable energy Renewable energy is energy that is collected from renewable resources that are naturally replenished on a human timescale. It includes sources such as sunlight, wind, the movement of water, and geothermal heat. Although most renewable ener ...

. Swan is also the founder of 2041, a company which is dedicated to the preservation of the

Antarctic The Antarctic ( or , American English also or ; commonly ) is a polar region around Earth's South Pole, opposite the Arctic region around the North Pole. The Antarctic comprises the continent of Antarctica, the Kerguelen Plateau and other ...

and the author with Gil Reavill of ''Antarctica 2041: My Quest to Save the Earth's Last Wilderness''. In November 2017, Swan undertook the South Pole Energy Challenge, the first expedition of its kind: a 600-mile journey to the South Pole with his son, surviving solely using renewable energy.

Early life and education

He was born in

Durham, England Durham ( , locally ), is a cathedral city and civil parish on the River Wear, County Durham, England. It is an administrative centre of the County Durham District, which is a successor to the historic County Palatine of Durham (which is diffe ...

, and attended

Aysgarth School , established = 1877 , type = Preparatory independent day and boarding school , trust = , religious_affiliation = Church of England , president = , head_label = , head = Rob Morse , r_head_label ...

and then

Sedbergh School Sedbergh School is a public school (English independent day and boarding school) in the town of Sedbergh in Cumbria, in North West England. It comprises a junior school for children aged 4 to 13 and the main school for 13 to 18 year olds. It w ...

(1969–1974) before completing a BA in

ancient history Ancient history is a time period from the beginning of writing and recorded human history to as far as late antiquity. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, beginning with the Sumerian cuneiform script. Ancient history cove ...

(1976–1979) at St Chad's College,

Durham University Durham University (legally the University of Durham) is a collegiate university, collegiate public university, public research university in Durham, England, Durham, England, founded by an Act of Parliament in 1832 and incorporated by royal charte ...

South Pole: "In the Footsteps of Scott" (1984–1987)

''Southern Quest'' set sail on 3 November 1984 to travel the to

. The expedition stopped over in

Lyttelton, New Zealand Lyttelton (Māori: ''Ōhinehou'') is a port town on the north shore of Lyttelton Harbour / Whakaraupō, at the northwestern end of Banks Peninsula and close to Christchurch, on the eastern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. As a landing ...

, to meet Bill Burton, who at 96 years old was the last surviving member of Scott's expedition in 1912. Swan's initial Antarctic expedition was thus officially dubbed "In the Footsteps of Scott". Upon arrival on the frozen continent, Swan and his team spent the Antarctic winter at the Jack Hayward Base with colleagues John Tolson and Dr. Michael Stroud. When the winter had passed, Swan, Roger Mear and Gareth Wood set out to walk to the

South Pole The South Pole, also known as the Geographic South Pole, Terrestrial South Pole or 90th Parallel South, is one of the two points where Earth's axis of rotation intersects its surface. It is the southernmost point on Earth and lies antipod ...

. They arrived at the South Pole on 11 January 1986, after 70 days without the aid of any

radio communications Radio is the technology of signaling and communicating using radio waves. Radio waves are electromagnetic waves of frequency between 30 hertz (Hz) and 300 gigahertz (GHz). They are generated by an electronic device called a transm ...

or back-up support and having hauled sledges. Swan's team had achieved the longest unassisted march ever made in history. Once at the pole, they received the bad news that their ship, ''Southern Quest'', had been crushed by pack ice and had sunk, just minutes before they arrived. There was much criticism of the adventure from the scientists working in Antarctica as time and money had to be spent in flying some of the party back out to

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island country ...

. However, Swan returned in 1987 with a ship to collect the rest of the team at Jack Hayward Base and to remove all traces of his expedition, i.e., rubbish and remaining stores.

North Pole: "Icewalk" (1987–1989)

Three years after reaching the South Pole, Swan assembled a team of eight people from seven nations for an attempt at the

North Pole The North Pole, also known as the Geographic North Pole or Terrestrial North Pole, is the point in the Northern Hemisphere where the Earth's axis of rotation meets its surface. It is called the True North Pole to distinguish from the Magn ...

. The Icewalk expedition team consisted of: Dr. Misha Malakhov from Russia, Rupert Summerson of the UK, Graeme Joy of Australia, Arved Fuchs of Germany, Hiroshi Onishi from Japan, Angus Cockney of the

Inuit Inuit (; iu, ᐃᓄᐃᑦ 'the people', singular: Inuk, , dual: Inuuk, ) are a group of culturally similar indigenous peoples inhabiting the Arctic and subarctic regions of Greenland, Labrador, Quebec, Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, ...

, and Daryl E. Roberts of the US. Icewalk's base camp held 22 representatives from 15 nations, with the US represented by Mike Doyle and photojournalist Michael Forster Rothbart. They produced a series of educational films there and facilitated the removal of rubbish from the surrounding

Arctic The Arctic ( or ) is a polar region located at the northernmost part of Earth. The Arctic consists of the Arctic Ocean, adjacent seas, and parts of Canada ( Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut), Danish Realm ( Greenland), Finland, Icel ...

wilderness. Swan and his team reached the North Pole on 14 May 1989. The team nearly drowned during their expedition due to the unseasonable melting of Arctic ice. Their journey made Swan the first man to walk to both the North and South poles, unassisted.

Cleaning up 1500 tons of waste from Antarctica

In 1992, Swan was invited by the United Nations to be a keynote speaker to the first

Earth Summit The United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED), also known as the Rio Conference or the Earth Summit (Portuguese: ECO92), was a major United Nations conference held in Rio de Janeiro from June 3 to June 14, 1992. Earth S ...

for

sustainable development Sustainable development is an organizing principle for meeting human development goals while also sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services on which the economy and society depend. The des ...

, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In response to the world leaders' challenge to "think global act local", Swan made a commitment to deliver a global and local environmental mission involving industry, business, and young people to the next World Summit in 2002. In 1996–97, he organised a team for One Step Beyond, the South Pole Challenge. The mission was to remove and recycle 1,500 tons of waste that had been left at Bellingshausen station in Antarctica after decades of scientific research. The team worked for eight years to raise the money, plan, and execute the mission. The rubbish at the Russian base of Bellingshausen, King George Island, was cleared and the native penguins reclaimed their beach for the first time in 47 years.

The ''2041'' Yacht: from Earth Summit to World Summit to Rio

Swan's 67' foot racing yacht ''2041'' was named after the year in which the ' Madrid Protocol' comes up for debate. The protocol, signed by nearly every nation, provides additional protection for the

Antarctic Treaty The Antarctic Treaty and related agreements, collectively known as the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), regulate international relations with respect to Antarctica, Earth's only continent without a native human population. It was the first arms ...

and designates the continent as "a Natural Reserve Land for Science and Peace". It also places a ban on mining and mineral exploration in Antarctica for 50 years (1991–2041).

Overland to the Johannesburg World Summit

In 2002, Swan and his ''2041'' sailboat embarked on the longest overland voyage in history, visiting over 30 destinations in South Africa. Beginning in

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second larges ...

, the voyage's destination was the 2002 World Summit for

Sustainable Development Sustainable development is an organizing principle for meeting human development goals while also sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services on which the economy and society depend. The des ...

Johannesburg, South Africa Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu and xh, eGoli ), colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, or "The City of Gold", is the largest city in South Africa, classified as a megacity, and is one of the 100 largest urban areas in the world. According to Demo ...

. Swan partnered with loveLife – a charity battling AIDS in South Africa. The voyage reached out to over 750,000 young people across South Africa. During the World Summit, the 'Ice Station' exhibit was visited by 128 world leaders and 35,000 visitors, including 12,000 young people. It was awarded first prize for outstanding contribution to the World Summit. Swan was charged by the world leaders to continue his mission and report back at the next World Summit for

, ten years later, in 2012.

The Cape to Rio Yacht Race, January–April 2003

As the first step to the 2012 World Summit at Rio, Swan brought a team of young African leaders on ''2041'' for the Cape to Rio Yacht Race.

Circumnavigation of Africa, May 2003 – May 2004

Returning from the Rio, the yacht embarked on "The

Circumnavigation Circumnavigation is the complete navigation around an entire island, continent, or astronomical body (e.g. a planet or moon). This article focuses on the circumnavigation of Earth. The first recorded circumnavigation of the Earth was the Magel ...

of Africa". The voyage promoted AIDS awareness, water saving, and recycling whilst visiting over 30 ports. Along the route, communities came out in force to participate in clean-up projects with the aim of improving their immediate environment. Three young men from loveLife were chosen by Swan to become the first African crew in history to circumnavigate their own continent.

The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race, December 2004 – January 2005

Continuing on her journey towards the 2012 World Summit, Swan entered sailboat ''2041'' in the 2004/2005 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race with the world's first sails made entirely from recycled plastic (

PET A pet, or companion animal, is an animal kept primarily for a person's company or entertainment rather than as a working animal, livestock, or a laboratory animal. Popular pets are often considered to have attractive appearances, intelligence, ...

) bottles. ''2041'' was crewed by industry leaders and teachers selected for their outstanding inspiration for young people. The sailboat finished 24th in the race.

The E-base and the Voyage for Cleaner Energy, 2008–2012

"The E-base Goes Live", March 2008

Powered entirely on

, Swan and a small team lived and sent broadcasts from the E-base via the internet for two weeks. It was the first time in history that a team had attempted to survive in Antarctica relying solely on

. Their mission was successful, and the team departed the continent after the allotted two weeks in good health.

The Voyage for Cleaner Energy, April 2008–2012

On 8 April 2008, the Voyage for Cleaner Energy and ''2041'' sailboat launched from

San Francisco, California San Francisco (; Spanish for " Saint Francis"), officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Northern California. The city proper is the fourth most populous in California and 17th ...

. ''2041'' was refitted to operate entirely on wind, solar, and

biodiesel Biodiesel is a form of diesel fuel derived from plants or animals and consisting of long-chain fatty acid esters. It is typically made by chemically reacting lipids such as animal fat (tallow), soybean oil, or some other vegetable oil wit ...

generated energy. ''2041'' and Swan engaged in a multi-city tour of the West Coast of the US to highlight

and engage the youth of the world to take positive steps toward renewable,

sustainable energy Energy is sustainable if it "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs". Most definitions of sustainable energy include considerations of environmental aspects such as greenh ...

practices. 8 April 2008 was officially deemed "Robert Swan Day" in San Francisco at the request of

Mayor Gavin Newsom Gavin Christopher Newsom (born October 10, 1967) is an American politician and businessman who has been the 40th governor of California since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 49th lieutenant governor of California fro ...

'2041' and Team Inspire International Antarctic Expeditions (2003–present)

International Antarctic Expeditions, 2003–2022

Swan led the first corporate expedition to Antarctica in 2003. The expedition members witnessed firsthand the effects of climate change in Antarctica. They were tasked by Swan to become leaders in sustainability upon their return home. The expeditions include leadership development, climate change training, sustainability education, and training on Antarctica. In addition the expedition's teach participants the benefits and need to ensure the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty remains as it is - a protocol that puts aside Antarctica for peaceful purposes and scientific research. It could potentially be modified or amended between the years 2041 and 2048. The expeditions continue on a near-annual basis, with the most recent held in March 2022. On the 2018 International Antarctic Expeditio
Team Zayed
(Mariam Al Qassimi, Rashed Al Zaabi and Winston Cowie) representing the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi and Dr

Jane Goodall Dame Jane Morris Goodall (; born Valerie Jane Morris-Goodall on 3 April 1934), formerly Baroness Jane van Lawick-Goodall, is an English primatologist and anthropologist. Seen as the world's foremost expert on chimpanzees, Goodall is best know ...

lit up the Antarctic sky with a solar light show, writing a message in solar lights to the world on climate change and plastic. The solar light show, with Swan and his son Barney present, inspired the award-winning documentary ''Zayed's Antarctic Lights''. The 2022 International Antarctic Expedition was the largest yet and a collaboration between Swan's NGO '2041', adventure travel company the 'Explorers Passage', and Swan's son's Barney's NGO 'Climateforce'. The expedition left from Ushuaia, South America, on board the vessel the 'Ocean Victory', with 177 participants from 37 countries in attendance. Winston Cowie was the Program Director of the 2022 International Antarctic Expedition.

Climate Force Challenge (2017 to 2025)

The goal of the Climate Force (CF) challenge is to reduce 360 million tonnes of before the year 2025. Working directly with businesses, communities, and students to promote sustainable development, Swan and his son Barney continue to manage expeditions as a platform to accelerate impact. *South Pole Energy Challenge: ''12 November 2017 – 15 January 2018'' *IAE Antarctica '18: ''27 February – 12 March 2018'' *Mt. Kilimanjaro '19: ''28 February – 10 March 2019'' *Arctic '19: '' 15 – 25 June 2019'' *Last Degree: '' 1 – 15 January 2020''

South Pole Energy Challenge, and Last 300 Expeditions

In November 2017, Swan undertook another expedition to the South Pole with his son Barney, on a mission known as the South Pole Energy Challenge (SPEC). This father and son team set out to ski a 600-mile journey surviving solely on renewable energy, a first in polar-exploration. Carrying everything on their sledges, they used NASA designed solar ice melters, biofuels made from waste, lithium batteries, and passive solar flasks for survival. Additionally, they planted 2,000 trees to make the logistics and operations of the expedition carbon positive. Swan planned to undertake a mission to complete his 35-year-old goal of crossing the entire Antarctic continent in January, 2022.

Awards, honors and publications

* 1987 ''In the Footsteps of Scott'' published by Jonathon Cape, authored by Swan and Roger Mear * 1988 Swan was awarded the

Polar Medal The Polar Medal is a medal awarded by the Sovereign of the United Kingdom to individuals who have outstanding achievements in the field of polar research, and particularly for those who have worked over extended periods in harsh climates. It ...

by Her Majesty

Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until her death in 2022. She was queen regnant of 32 sovereign states during ...

* 1988 ''Destination: Antarctica'' published by Scholastic, Inc. * 1989 Official Flag Bearer for the Explorers Club of New York to the

(USA) * 1989 Appointed

United Nations Environment Program The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system. It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the United Nations Conference on t ...

Goodwill Ambassador Goodwill ambassador is a post-nominal honorific title, a professional occupation and/or authoritative designation that is assigned to a person who advocates for a specific cause or global issue on the basis of their notability such as a publ ...

(

UNEP The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is responsible for coordinating responses to environmental issues within the United Nations system. It was established by Maurice Strong, its first director, after the United Nations Conference on t ...

) * 1990 Winner of the United Nations Global 500 award * 1990 ''Icewalk'' published by Icewalk Features * 1992 Appointed United Nations Education/Science and Cultural Organization

with Special Responsibility for Youth (

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

) * 1992 Visiting Professor of the School of Environment, Leeds Metropolitan University (UK) * 1993 Founded the Robert Swan Foundation – a registered charity for the promotion of youth and scientific endeavours in the environment * 1993 Doctorate of Letters, The Robert Gordon University (UK) * 1994 Appointed Special Envoy to the Director General of

* 1995 Awarded

by Her Majesty

* 1998 Smithsonian Award for the Information technology in Education & Academia (USA) * 2000 Honorary Member of the Amstel Club, the Netherlands * 2000 ''2041: The Voyage South'' published by Hayloft Publishing * 2002 Vice-President of the Countryside Management Association (UK) * 2005 Awarded ' Freedom of the City of London' * 2005 Elected, by membership vote, Honorary President of the '

Ski Club of Great Britain The Ski Club of Great Britain is a recreational snow sports club, which operates on a not-for-profit basis. It was founded on 6 May 1903 during a meeting at the Café Royal in London. Until the 1960s, the Ski Club of Great Britain was responsible f ...

' * 2006 Honorary Fellow at St. Chad's College,

(UK) * 2008 torchbearer of the 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay in

St Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

, Russia * 201
TED Talk:
Let's save the last pristine continent for TEDGlobal 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil * 2015 Winner of the Humanitarian Innovation Lifetime Achievement Award * 2017 Winner of UN NOVUS Award for contributing to 17

Sustainable Development Goals The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) or Global Goals are a collection of 17 interlinked objectives designed to serve as a "shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future".United Nations (2017) R ...

(SDG) * 2017 Elected (one of thirty members) to the Helena Group

References

External links

www.2041foundation.org

Robert Swan Biography

Robert Swan Speaker profile
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Swan, Robert 1956 births Living people Alumni of St Chad's College, Durham English explorers Explorers of Antarctica Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society Officers of the Order of the British Empire People educated at Aysgarth School People educated at Sedbergh School Recipients of the Polar Medal