Robert Swan
Robert Swan is the first person to have reached the South Pole and the North Pole on foot. He has been campaigning to preserve Antarctica for many years and he is making a big contribution to counteracting the negative effects of climate change. In 2003, Robert Swan established his 2041 organization and undertook his first expeditions to Antarctica. These expeditions enabled him to contribute to setting up and building the world’s first training station in Antarctica: the E-Base (Educational Base). He was granted the award of UN Goodwill Ambassador for Youth in recognition of his contributions to education and the environment. In 1994, Robert Swan was appointed as Special Envoy to the Director General of UNESCO.
 
The 2041 Project
The 2041 Initiative was launched by Robert Swan in order to create awareness for the need to protect Antarctica and the climate. Swan named his enterprise and ship ‘2041’ after the year when the review of the Environmental Protocol of the Antarctic Treaty is due to take place. The climate protection campaigner is committed to preventing this unique natural environment from being opened up to the mining of minerals and extraction of fossil fuels in 2041.
 
You can find out more about Robert Swan and the 2041 project by going to the official project home page: http://www.2041.com/

Why is RWE supporting Robert Swan and Project 2041?

This is the third time that RWE has supported Project 2041, Robert Swan’s aim is to create an awareness of the need to protect Antarctica and the climate. RWE recognises its own responsibility to preserve our habitat and wants to underline this through its commitment to 2041.
 
Operating through its subsidiary RWE Innogy, the energy supplier RWE invests an annual total of at least 1billion euros in the development of renewable energies. Using new storage technologies and numerous other innovations, RWE has the ENERGY TO LEAD in the intelligent use of energy.
 
Wind turbines in rough weather conditions
RWE’s commitment to 2041 starts where we as energy suppliers are at our best – the generation of power. Our renewable energy company, RWE Innogy, the research station in Antarctica, E-Base, with two micro wind turbines. This meant that the station’s electricity was provided entirely from renewable energy sources.
 
RWE staff committed to the E-Base Camp
In addition, we are contributing our knowledge and skills to the initiative. Two RWE staff were on site from 23 February 2009 until 14 March 2009 and set up the wind turbines. They worked together, with the team and ensured that the research station could receive climate-friendly electric power.
 
RWE staff to join Antarctic expedition and become ambassadors for climate protection
To ensure a sustained awareness of the need to protect Antarctica and our climate, eleven RWE employees from different countries had the privilege of a hands-on Antarctic experience from 14 March to 27 March 2009.The two-week tour gave them an impression of the wonderful untouched beauty of Antarctica. Since they’ve been back at work, they have been sharing their impressions and acting as our climate protection ambassadors.