Explorer for sustainability
Bertrand dedicates his life to demonstrate the opportunities lying in sustainable development and to raise interest in profitable solutions to protect the environment. He is a pioneer of new ways of thinking that reconcile ecology and economy, and uses his exploration feats to motivate governments and industries to take action.
Bertrand’s dedication emerged from a solid conviction: climate change can only be tackled through the lens of profitability and popular endorsement. Instead of focusing on problems and costs, Bertrand has been one of the firsts, starting in 2002, to promote clean technologies and energy efficiency as a financially profitable solution to fight climate change.
Therefore, his goal is to bridge the gap between economy and ecology. For him, the world will go nowhere if we try to protect the environment by threatening human comfort, mobility and economical development. A medical Doctor by training, specialized in psychiatry, Bertrand considers that people don’t easily change their habits and that solutions have to take into account their reluctance to make sacrifices.
Serial-explorer by education
It is in his DNA to go beyond the obvious and achieve the impossible As part of a legendary dynasty of explorers and scientists who conquered the stratosphere and the deepest trench in the ocean, he made history by accomplishing the first ever non-stop around the world balloon flight on board Breitling Orbiter 3. With a vision to demonstrate the immense potential of renewable energies, he then initiated the Solar Impulse challenge, and circumnavigated the globe in an airplane powered only by the sun. With his dual identities as psychiatrist and explorer, he constantly sets out to challenge certitudes and habits, and advocates for a pioneering spirit to solve the challenges of our times. Referred to as the “Inspioneer”, this born communicator has a striking way of always trying to build bridges between the extremes in order to develop synergies instead of oppositions.
Exploration is a state of mind. If we want to innovate and achieve impossible goals, we have to understand that the only obstacle to succeed is our mindset. It’s the accumulation of believes and habits that keep us prisoner of old ways of thinking.
Bertrand Piccard
Exploration is a state of mind. If we want to innovate and achieve impossible goals, we have to understand that the only obstacle to succeed is our mindset. It’s the accumulation of believes and habits that keep us prisoner of old ways of thinking.
Bertrand Piccard
Three Generations of pioneering spirit
A legendary dynasty carrying on a tradition of scientific exploration and protection of the environment, pushing back the boundaries of knowledge, transcending common assumptions, and achieving the impossible.
Auguste Piccard
Conqueror of the stratosphere, the first man to see the curvature of the earth, he paved the way for modern aviation.
Jacques Piccard
Deepest man in the world with his Bathyscaphe, a pioneer of scientific ecology, committed to the protection of oceans and lakes.
Bertrand Piccard
First man to fly around the world in a balloon and in a solar powered airplane, explorer with a philosophical vision and a pioneering spirit to find solutions to face the environmental challenges of our times.
Architect of a meaningful adventure
When I was flying around the world in my solar airplane, I remember looking at the sun that was running my 4 electric motors and their huge propellers. There was no noise, no pollution, no fuel... and I could fly forever. At a certain moment I thought ‘this is science fiction, I’m in the future.’ And then I realized, ‘no, it’s wrong, I’m in the present; this is what the technologies of today already allow me to do. It’s the rest of the world that is in the past, with old and inefficient devices.
Bertrand Piccard
Bertrand Piccard is the initiator and visionary behind Solar Impulse, the very first airplane capable of flying around the world without fuel. His ambition was to leverage the spirit of exploration for a useful contribution to the cause of renewable energies. With his wife Michèle, he conceived the Solar Impulse project as a now widely recognized platform to raise public awareness and encourage political actions in favor of clean technologies.
During the climate change talks, political and media figures all around the world were listening to the pilot’s message and passing it on. The success of Solar Impulse highlighted the enormous potential of clean technologies for energy saving and renewable energy production. Used worldwide in our daily life, the same efficient solutions could help reduce drastically our carbon footprint on Earth. Up to 50% already today!
Promoter of the Solutions Explorer
To address sustainability challenges while enabling economic growth, Bertrand Piccard and the Solar Impulse Foundation have identified 1000+ clean and profitable solutions. The Solar Impulse Foundation has organized these solutions into a Solutions Explorer in order to support their implementation at scale. By giving political and economic decision-makers the tools to adopt much more ambitious energy and environmental policies, the Foundation will help them to set a roadmap to reach their environmental objectives.
Wishing to shed light on existing efficient solutions to fast-track their implementation, he founded the World Alliance for Efficient Solutions to federate the actors in the field of clean technologies. In fall 2021, the Alliance counted more than 3’900 start-ups, corporations, investors and public authorities.
Today, thousands of solutions exist that can preserve nature while boosting economic growth, but they are often hidden in start-ups or research labs. They remain unknown to decision makers and are not implemented at industry level. By achieving our 1000 Solutions Challenge, we have now the proof that there are enough technologies to make our world more profitable, efficient and sustainable. Therefore, no excuses left for inaction as decision makers cannot pretend anymore that ecology is too expensive, hurts the economy and destroys jobs!
Bertrand Piccard
“Inspioneer” for progress and sustainability
Governments, companies and institutions must urgently adopt more ambitious environmental and energy policies. They should stop compromising for minimal targets, but rather should base their negotiations and objectives on the reality of what clean profitable technologies can offer today. Not only for future generations, but for the current benefit of people and industry.
Bertrand Piccard
Bertrand encourages others to challenge common assumptions by focusing on solutions instead of problems and showing how the fight against climate change is opening up new industrial markets and new opportunities for economic development. Bertrand has become an influential voice heard among the most distinguished institutions across the globe, including the United Nations, the G7, several national governments, Climate Conferences, the Clean Energy Ministerial, the European Institutions, TED and the World Economic Forum. He has been appointed Champion of the Earth and United Nations Goodwill Ambassador for the Environment.
