{{Short description|British adventurer}} {{for-multi|the Canadian skier|Robert Swan (alpine skier)|the actor|Robert Swan (actor)|other people|Robert Swann (disambiguation)}} {{Multiple issues| {{BLP sources|date=August 2017}} {{COI|date=July 2022}} {{BLP primary sources|date=July 2022}} {{Resume-like|date=December 2025}} }} {{EngvarB|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2022}}
'''Robert Charles Swan''', [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire|OBE]], [[FRGS]] (born 28 July 1956) is the first person to walk to both [[Geographic pole|poles]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/first-person-to-walk-to-both-poles/|title=First person to walk to both poles|work=Guinness World Records|access-date=5 June 2017}}</ref> [[File:Rob Swan Headshot 2 (1).jpg|thumb|Robert Swan ]] He is currently an advocate for the protection of [[Antarctica]] and [[renewable energy]]. Swan is also the [[Entrepreneur|founder]] of 2041, a company which is dedicated to the preservation of the [[Antarctic]]<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.2041.com/about-2041/ | title = Who we are | publisher = 2041 | work = 2041.com | access-date = 27 February 2012 }}</ref> and the author with [[Gil Reavill]] of ''Antarctica 2041: My Quest to Save the Earth's Last Wilderness''.<ref name=":0">{{cite book | title = Antarctica 2041: My Quest to Save the Earth's Last Wilderness | first1 = Robert | last1 = Swan | first2 = Gil | last2 = Reavill | edition = illustrated | publisher = Broadway Books | year = 2009 | isbn = 978-0-7679-3175-5 }}</ref>
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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://2041.com/spec |title=SPEC |website=2041.com |access-date=13 February 2018}}</ref>
==Early life and education== {{BLP sources section|date=August 2022}} He was born in [[Durham, England]], and attended [[Aysgarth School]] and then [[Sedbergh School]] (1969–1974) before completing a BA in [[ancient history]] (1976–1979) at [[St Chad's College]], [[Durham University]].<ref name="britannica">{{cite web |title=Robert Swan|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-Swan |publisher=Britannica |accessdate=November 26, 2025}}</ref>
==South Pole: "In the Footsteps of Scott" (1984–1987)==
''Southern Quest'' set sail on 3 November 1984 to travel the {{convert|14842|nmi|km}} to [[Antarctica]]. The expedition stopped over in [[Lyttelton, New Zealand]], to meet Bill Burton, who at 96 years old was the last surviving member of [[Terra Nova Expedition|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 Michael Stroud. When the winter had passed, Swan, Roger Mear and Gareth Wood set out to walk {{convert|900|mi|km}} to the [[South Pole]]. They arrived at the South Pole on 11 January 1986, after 70 days without the aid of any [[radio communications]] or back-up support and having hauled {{convert|350|lb|abbr=on}} 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. While welcomed by the scientists at the Pole, There was much criticism of the adventure from the US military authorities in charge of Antactica stations, who claimed they needed to rescue and fly some of the party back out to [[New Zealand]]. 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=About|url=http://scottexpedition.com/about/other-expeditions|access-date=22 June 2020|website=The Scott Expedition}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Mear, Roger.|title=In the footsteps of Scott|date=1987|publisher=J. Cape|others=Swan, Robert, Fulcher, Lindsay|isbn=0-224-02418-3|location=London|oclc=24009939}}</ref>
==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 Icewalk expedition team consisted of: 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]], 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]] 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.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last1=Swan |first1=Robert |title=The earth's last wilderness : a quest to save Antarctica |date=2009 |publisher=Broadway Books |last2=Reavill |first2=Gil |isbn=978-0-7679-3176-2 |edition=1st pbk. |location=New York |oclc=503042262}}</ref>
==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]] for [[sustainable development]], 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.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|title=The race to save the Earth|url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/environment/the-race-to-save-the-earth-1.1135766|access-date=27 June 2020|website=gulfnews.com|date=22 January 2013 }}</ref>
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|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 Station|Bellingshausen]], [[King George Island (South Shetland Islands)|King George Island]], was cleared and the native [[penguins]] reclaimed their beach for the first time in 47 years.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Polar explorer Robert Swan's life mission is to preserve the Antarctic {{!}} The Star|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/living/2018/07/31/polar-explorer-robert-swan-antarctic|access-date=22 June 2020|website=www.thestar.com.my|date=31 July 2018 }}</ref>
== The ''2041'' Yacht: from Earth Summit to World Summit to Rio == {{cleanup reorganize|date=July 2022}} Swan's 67' foot racing yacht ''2041'' was named after the year in which the '[[Madrid Protocol]]' comes up for debate. The [[Protocol (politics)|protocol]], signed by nearly every nation, provides additional protection for the [[Antarctic Treaty]] 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).<ref name=":0" />
===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]], the voyage's destination was the 2002 [[World Summit]] for [[Sustainable Development]] in [[Johannesburg, South Africa]]. Swan partnered with loveLife – a charity battling AIDS in South Africa.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Eco-friendly yacht hits high seas to Rio energy summit|url=https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/eco-friendly-yacht-hits-high-seas-to-rio-energy-summit-1306540|access-date=22 June 2020|website=www.iol.co.za|archive-date=24 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200624033949/https://www.iol.co.za/the-star/eco-friendly-yacht-hits-high-seas-to-rio-energy-summit-1306540|url-status=dead}}</ref>
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.<ref name=":0" />
Swan was charged by the world leaders to continue his mission and report back at the next [[World Summit]] for [[Sustainable Development]], ten years later, in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |title=THE JOURNEY SO FAR ROBERT SWAN - 2041 |url=https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/view/6654411/the-journey-so-far-robert-swan-2041 |access-date=12 July 2020 |website=yumpu.com}}</ref>
===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]].<ref name=":1" />
===Circumnavigation of Africa, May 2003 – May 2004=== Returning from the Rio, the yacht embarked on "The [[Circumnavigation]] 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 (biophysical)|environment]]. Three young men from loveLife were chosen by Swan to become the first African crew in history to circumnavigate their own continent.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Jan-Willem Hoogeweegen |date=25 August 2009 |title=The Voyage For Cleaner Energy |url=https://www.slideshare.net/slideshow/the-voyage-for-cleaner-energy/1905525 |via=www.slideshare.net}}</ref>
===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 ([[Polyethylene terephthalate|PET]]) bottles. ''2041'' was crewed by industry leaders and teachers selected for their outstanding inspiration for young people. The sailboat finished 24th in the race.<ref name=":1" />
== The E-base and the Voyage for Cleaner Energy, 2008–2012 ==
{{cleanup reorganize|date=July 2022}}
==="The E-base Goes Live", March 2008=== Powered entirely on [[renewable energy]], Swan and a small team lived and sent broadcasts from the E-base{{clarify|reason=what is 'the E-base'?|date=August 2022}} 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 [[renewable energy]]. Their mission was successful, and the team departed the continent after the allotted two weeks in good health.<ref name=":2" />
===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]]. ''2041'' was refitted to operate entirely on wind, solar, and [[biodiesel]] generated energy. ''2041'' and Swan engaged in a multi-city tour of the West Coast of the US to highlight [[renewable energy]] and engage the youth of the world to take positive steps toward renewable, [[sustainable energy]] practices. 8 April 2008 was officially deemed "Robert Swan Day" in San Francisco at the request of [[Mayor Gavin Newsom]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 June 2017 |title=Robert Swan: One of History's Greatest Explorers! |url=https://explorerspassage.com/chronicles/robertswan/ |access-date=12 July 2020 |website=The Explorer's Passage |archive-date=12 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200712163701/https://explorerspassage.com/chronicles/robertswan/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
=='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.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kovo|first=Yael|date=11 January 2016|title=Robert Swan - Leadership on the Edge|url=http://www.nasa.gov/ames/ocs/2015-summer-series/robert-swan|access-date=12 July 2020|website=NASA}}</ref> The expeditions include leadership development, climate change training, sustainability education, and training on Antarctica. In addition the expeditions 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.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dhabi |first=NYU Abu |title=Robert Swan: Leadership on the Edge |url=https://nyuad.nyu.edu/en/events/2017/october/robert-swan-leadership-on-the-edge.html |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=New York University Abu Dhabi |language=en}}</ref><ref name="ClimateForce: Antarctica '22">{{Cite web |title=ClimateForce: Antarctica '22 |url=https://2041foundation.org/antarctica22/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=2041 Foundation |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ClimateForce {{!}} Our Story |url=https://www.theclimateforce.org/our-story/ |website=2041 Foundation |access-date=2022-07-18 |language=en-US }}{{Dead link|date=February 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
The expeditions continue on a near-annual basis, with the most recent held in March 2022.<ref name="ClimateForce: Antarctica '22"/>
On the 2018 International Antarctic Expedition [https://gulfnews.com/uae/environment/team-zayed-heads-to-antarctica-1.2169159 Team Zayed] (Mariam Al Qassimi, Rashed Al Zaabi and [[Winston Cowie]]) representing the [[Environment Agency Abu Dhabi|Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi]] and [[Jane Goodall]] lit up the Antarctic sky with a solar light show, writing a message in solar lights to the world on climate change and plastic.<ref>{{Cite web|title='Zayed's Antarctic Lights' Highlights Impacts of Climate Change and Single-use Plastics {{!}} Dugong|url=https://www.cms.int/dugong/en/news/zayed%E2%80%99s-antarctic-lights-highlights-impacts-climate-change-and-single-use-plastics|access-date=10 June 2020|website=www.cms.int}}</ref> The solar light show, with Swan and his son Barney present, inspired the award-winning documentary ''Zayed's Antarctic Lights''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Winners Gallery - New York Festivals|url=https://tvfilm.newyorkfestivals.com/Winners/WinnerDetails/543073|access-date=1 February 2021|website=tvfilm.newyorkfestivals.com}}</ref>
The 2022 International Antarctic Expedition was the largest yet and a collaboration between Swan's NGO '2041' and Swan's son 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.<ref name="ClimateForce: Antarctica '22"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Notes from the 2041 Foundation ClimateForce: Antarctic Expedition |url=https://shackleton.com/blogs/articles/notes-from-the-2041-foundation-climateforce-antarctic-expedition |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=Shackleton |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Duncan">{{Cite web |last=Duncan |first=Gillian |date=2022-04-14 |title=UAE expedition sees effects of climate change during emotional trip to Antarctica |url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/uae/2022/04/14/uae-expedition-sees-effects-of-climate-change-during-emotional-trip-to-antarctica/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=The National |language=en}}</ref> [[Winston Cowie]] was the Program Director of the 2022 International Antarctic Expedition.<ref name="Duncan"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=FROM MATAKANA TO DIRECTING THE INTERNATIONAL ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION |url=https://www.junctionmag.co.nz/junctionmag/2021/27/02/from-matakana-to-directing-the-international-antarctic-expedition |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=Junction Magazine |language=en-NZ |archive-date=18 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718173321/https://www.junctionmag.co.nz/junctionmag/2021/27/02/from-matakana-to-directing-the-international-antarctic-expedition |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=UAE explorers witness Antarctica's alarming climate change impact |url=https://gulfnews.com/uae/uae-explorers-witness-antarcticas-alarming-climate-change-impact-1.89071911 |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=gulfnews.com |date=6 July 2022 |language=en}}</ref>
== Climate Force Challenge (2017 to 2025) == The goal of the Climate Force (CF) challenge is to reduce 360 million tonnes of {{CO2}} 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Join the Climate Force Challenge – Jane Goodall's Roots and Shoots UAE |url=https://uae.rootsandshoots.community/join-the-climate-force-challenge/ |access-date=12 July 2020 |website=uae.rootsandshoots.community}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Living in harmony with nature with Barney Swan {{!}} Earth Humanities |url=https://sites.nyuad.nyu.edu/earthumanities/index.php/2021/11/15/living-in-harmony-with-nature-barney-swan/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |work=sites.nyuad.nyu.edu |language=en-US}}</ref>
*'''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'' *'''Undaunted:''' ''24 December - 10 January 2023''
== 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.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Father and son risk their lives crossing Antarctica to save the planet|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/father-and-son-robert-and-barney-swan-risk-their-lives-crossing-antarctica-to-save-the-planet/|access-date=27 June 2020|website=www.cbsnews.com|date=22 June 2018 }}</ref> Swan planned to undertake a mission to complete his 35-year-old goal of crossing the entire Antarctic continent in January, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Robert Swan {{!}} ClimateForce: Antarctica '20|url=https://www.robertswan.com/undaunted-2023 |work=robertswan.com |access-date=12 June 2021}}</ref>
==Awards, honors and publications== * 1987 ''In the Footsteps of Scott'' published by Jonathan Cape, authored by Swan and Roger Mear * 1988 Swan was awarded the [[Polar Medal]] by Her Majesty [[Queen Elizabeth II]]<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=51209 |date=26 January 1988 |page=885 |supp=y }}</ref> * 1988 ''Destination: Antarctica'' published by Scholastic, Inc. * 1989 Official Flag Bearer for the [[Explorers Club]] of New York to the [[North Pole]] (USA) * 1989 Appointed [[United Nations Environment Program]] [[Goodwill Ambassador]] ([[UNEP]]) * 1990 Winner of the United Nations Global 500 award * 1990 ''Icewalk'' published by Icewalk Features * 1992 Appointed United Nations Education/Science and Cultural Organization [[Goodwill Ambassador]] with Special Responsibility for Youth ([[UNESCO]]) * 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 [[UNESCO]] * 1995 Awarded [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire|OBE]] by Her Majesty [[Queen Elizabeth II]] * 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]]' * 2006 Honorary Fellow at [[St. Chad's College]], [[Durham University]] (UK) * 2008 torchbearer of the [[2008 Summer Olympics torch relay]] in [[St Petersburg]], Russia<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://www.kp.ru/daily/24075/312208/ |title=Олимпийский огонь понесут Друзь, Фрейндлих и Плющенко |trans-title=Friends, Freindlich and Plushenko will carry the Olympic flame (machine translated) |work=Komsomolskaya Pravda |date=4 April 2008}}</ref> * 2014 [https://www.ted.com/talks/robert_swan_let_s_save_the_last_pristine_continent?language=en 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<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://webtv.un.org/watch/robert-swan-explorer-novus-award-ceremony-novus-summit-2016/5042216783001#full-text|title=Robert Swan (Explorer) – NOVUS Award Ceremony, NOVUS Summit 2016|website=webtv.un.org|access-date=5 June 2017}}</ref> for contributing to 17 [[Sustainable Development Goals]] (SDG) * 2017 Elected (one of thirty members) to the [[Helena Group]]<ref>{{cite web |url = http://helena.co/members/ |title = Helena Group Members |publisher = Helena Group Foundation |date = 2017 }}</ref>{{clarify|reason=what is Helena Group ?|date=August 2022}}
==See also== * [[Third man factor]]
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.robertswan.com/ robertswan.com] * [https://2041foundation.org/ 2041 Foundation] * [https://2041.com/robert-swan Robert Swan Biography] * [http://gdl.cdlr.strath.ac.uk/scotia/gooant/gooant0207.htm Robert Swan Expedition 1984–85] * [https://londonspeakerbureau.com/speaker-profile/robert-swan/ Robert Swan Speaker profile] * {{TED speaker}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Swan, Robert}} [[Category:1956 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Alumni of St Chad's College, Durham]] [[Category:Boardman Tasker Prize winners]] [[Category:English explorers]] [[Category:20th-century English scientists]] [[Category:20th-century British explorers]] [[Category:British explorers of Antarctica]] [[Category:21st-century English scientists]] [[Category:21st-century British explorers]] [[Category:Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society]] [[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]] [[Category:People educated at Aysgarth School]] [[Category:People educated at Sedbergh School]] [[Category:Recipients of the Polar Medal]]