What is the Voyage for Cleaner Energy?
The ‘2041’ yacht was first acquired in May 1999, and named in recognition of the year in which the review of the Environmental Protocol of the Antarctic Treaty begins. Over the next 7 years, she witnessed the removal of 1,500 tons of rubbish and industrial waste from Antarctica, completed the longest overland journey of a vessel in Africa, docked at the Rio World Summit in 2002, circumnavigated the entire African continent and completed the Sydney-Hobart Race.
In 2008, the ‘2041’ will be completely refitted to run on clean energy and will begin the first phase of a four-year global plan to raise awareness on the benefits of renewable energy, ending at the next World Summit in 2012.
On her way to the World Summit for Sustainable Development, the voyage will take us from the West coast of the USA through the Panama Canal, up the Eastern seaboard, down the Mississippi River, and then over to Europe, Russia, the Middle East, India and China.
In each port and every nation, Robert Swan will motivate individuals, companies and communities to take decisive action and affect positive change to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We will demonstrate the benefits of renewable energy as an affordable alternative to carbon-based fuels, aiming to engage young people through presentations at schools, colleges and universities.
Our call to action will be to inspire and connect young upcoming leaders from universities together with established leaders from corporations and industry. This International Alumni will work closely with local and global communities to affect personal change and influence government policy.
