Robert Swan Coming Into His Own When It Comes To Saving The Planet

ClimateForce founder Barney Swan is walking in the footsteps of his father, polar explorer Robert Swan, and coming into his own when it comes to saving the planet.

- Barney Swan

The world is in a climate emergency, and the voices of the younger generation are ringing louder than ever this year, led by Swedish teen Greta Thunberg pressuring governments to take action. Like Thunberg, Barney Swan is on a mission to combat climate change, but the British-‘born 25-‘year-‘old environmentalist has taken a solutions-‘based approach.

Swan founded global non-‘profit ClimateForce in 2018 with a seven-‘year mission to reduce 360 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions before 2025 by making sustainable development solutions accessible, relevant and engaging. “Our planet is struggling to sustain 7.5 billion people. I feel a responsibility to inspire people to do more, not just to have awareness but to drive action. There’s a lot of talk about sustainability, but how do we convert that awareness into tangible things?” Swan tells us on the sidelines of The Conscious Festival by Green is the New Black last month.

This passion runs deep as Swan is also a polar adventurer, just like his father Robert Swan, who is the first person to walk both the North and South Poles in the 1980s, and has dedicated his life to the preservation of Antarctica through his 2041 Foundation. Every year, the Swans lead three to four expeditions, which bring together individuals, corporations and even industries, to discuss the environment and polar regions, as well as promote the use of renewable energy and sustainable practices.