Why you should listen
Raised in Yorkshire, England, Robert Swan, OBE, is the first person in history to walk to both the North and South Poles. After seeing the effects of climate change firsthand, Swan has dedicated himself to protecting Antarctica and our planet at large. Positive participation and a committed team have enabled Swan to educate and stimulate people across the globe.
Swan's organization, 2041 Foundation -- named for the date when the world's moratoriums on mining and drilling in Antarctica will expire -- leads expeditions of the world's most influential people to the continent in hopes that it will ignite their passion for preservation. The hope: to affect real and lasting environmental policy changes.
Swan's contribution to education and the environment have been recognized through his appointment as United Nations Environment Program Goodwill Ambassador (UNEP), United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization Goodwill Ambassador with Special Responsibility for Youth, and in 1994 he became Special Envoy to the Director General of UNESCO. Swan has been awarded both the Polar Medal and OBE by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II and is the winner of the Humanitarian Innovation Lifetime Achievement Award.
