FutureIsClean

André
Borschberg

Explorer

Concrete solutions for a clean future

The aim of Solar Impulse is to develop solutions to reduce energy consumption, solutions that can be used anywhere.

An engineer by education and a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in management science, André Borschberg has solid experience in creating and managing numerous technology projects, companies, and startups, as both an investor and an entrepreneur. His interest in innovative solutions, combined with his passion for aviation, have led him to team up with Bertrand Piccard to direct Solar Impulse and be one of the pilots who will fly the aircraft around the world. André Borschberg has also practised meditation and yoga for many years, developing the latter discipline in order to improve his resistance to fatigue and stress during the long flights planned for Solar Impulse. Solar Impulse lies at the crossroads of his passions and concerns : aviation, new technologies, ethics, respect for the environment and industrial ecology.

The story of #futureisclean

Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg are attempting the first round-the-world solar flight, an adventure to promote the use of clean technologies.

Clean technologies used on the solar aircraft could be used on the ground and reduce 50% of our world’s energy consumption... as of today. But for this, we need political courage and pioneering spirit.

We launched the #futureisclean initiative to create a federation of organizations pushing the replacement of old polluting devices by existing clean technologies.

Bertrand Piccard, Initiator, Chairman and Pilot of Solar Impulse:

This airplane was not built to carry passengers but to carry a message. Flying around the world with no fuel demonstrates that we can reach incredible goals with clean and energy efficient technologies. Let’s use them also on the ground!

André Borschberg, Co-Founder, CEO and Pilot of Solar Impulse:

Solar Impulse has been flying day and night non-stop using renewable energy and energy efficient technologies. In the same way, their use could make our world more energy efficient enabling us to reduce carbon emissions. On a considerable scale. No need to wait for tomorrow as we demonstrated it.'

Kofi Annan, Former Secretary General of the United Nations, Nobel Prize Laureate:

The destructive toll that human activity inflicts on our precious ecosystems is no longer sustainable; prosperity built on destruction is not prosperity at all, but only a temporary reprieve from tragedy. We must instead look ahead and promote, clean, alternative, renewable sources such as solar and wind

MANIFESTO: SOLVING CLIMATE CHANGE
WITH CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES

Join Bertrand Piccard’s approach to show that climate change is not an expensive problem requiring heavy financial and behavioral sacrifices, but rather a unique opportunity for profit and job creation:

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Initiators of the #FUTUREISCLEAN initiative

Bertrand
Piccard

Explorer

André
Borschberg

Explorer

Richard
Branson

Adventurer, Philanthropist, Troublemaker

Miguel-Arias
Canete

EU Commissioner

Doris
Leuthard

Swiss Federal Councillor

Adnan
Z. Amin

Director General, IRENA

H.S.H. Prince Albert II
Of Monaco

H.S.H. Prince Albert II Of Monaco

Dr. Sultan Ahmed
Al Jaber

Chairman, Masdar

Robert
Swan

Polar explorer, environmentalist

Christiana
Figueres

Executive Secretary, UNFCCC

Mikhaïl
Gorbatchev

Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Rainer
Baake

German State Secretary

Yann
Arthus-Bertrand

Photographers, UNEP Goodwill Embassador

Erik
Lindbergh

Artist, pilot, social entrepreneur

Kofi
Annan

Former Secretary General of the United Nations, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

Don
Walsh

EXPLORER, OCEANOGRAPHER

Sylvia
Earle

Marine biologist and explorer

Achim
STEINER

UNEP Executive Director and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations

Leilani
Munter

CarbonFreeGirl

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Concrete solutions for a Clean Future

Just like onboard Solar Impulse, solutions already exist to reduce energy consumption. We have gathered 357 organizations around this initiative. Some of them sent the solutions they wanted to promote at COP21.

The vote is now over, here are the top 5 solutions you voted for!

Receive news about the #futureisclean initiative to learn more about the outcome and next steps!

1
(417)

Instead of always focusing on producing more energy, let's save energy by implementing the most energy efficient devices existing today

2
(180)

Promote renewable energy resources

3
(132)

Don't ask people to sacrifice their life style, give them efficient energy devices

Instead of always focusing on producing more energy, let's save energy by implementing the most energy efficient devices existing today.

4
(101)

Push the transition to renewable energy resources

The climate is changing faster than at any time in human history, due in large part to the use of fossil fuels. Transitioning rapidly to a future fuelled by renewable energy is the single most effective way to stave off catastrophic climate change. Fortunately this can be done – in fact is already being done in many countries – in a cost-neutral way using technology available today, creating on average more new jobs than those being lost in the waning fossil fuel industries. Renewable energy is good for the climate, good for the economy, and good for business.

5
(76)

Focus on education

Although we have already been able to do great things with solar power, innovative efficiency solutions and global investments, the thing that gives me most confidence is the new generation of committed experts emerging from institutions like the Masdar Institute

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