‘Solar Impulse’ – changing the perception of the impossible

In 2004, a Swiss by the name of Raphaël Domjan had a wild idea: to sail around the world on a boat powered only by solar energy, a fantastic opportunity to demonstrate the potential of renewable energy. With creativity and perseverance, he turned his dream into a reality. Between 2010 and 2012, he and his crew circled the globe in their solar boat called “Planet Solar,” In August 2011, the Philippine public was able to admire this engineering marvel when the Swiss solar boat docked in Manila for a port call.

In less than two weeks, two other Swiss — aviation pioneers Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg — will set out for an even more spectacular and innovative global adventure: They aim to become the first humans to fly around the world in a solar-powered aircraft. Their ambition is to demonstrate that a clear vision can lead beyond what is currently possible, and to campaign for a more sustainable use of resources.

Their cutting-edge plane, the “Solar Impulse” is all set to launch. The first round-the-world solar flight will take-off on March 1 from Abu Dhabi. After stopovers in Oman, India, Myanmar and China, it will cross the Pacific Ocean and then the USA. Proceeding over the Atlantic Ocean, the plane will return to its point of departure via Southern Europe and North Africa. On its longest legs, the pilots will be flying the “Solar Impulse” for no less than four consecutive days and nights at a time.

An airplane flying purely on renewable solar energy may seem the project’s focal point. Indeed, the technology developed and perfected at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne is truly groundbreaking. It also demonstrates Switzerland’s leading role as a center for innovation.But beyond the aeronautical dimension and its novel technology, the overriding aim is to encourage everyone to be pioneers in their everyday lives. Piccard and Borschberg are convinced that in the 21st century, adventure must continue. However, their objective is not to conquer unknown territories, but rather to preserve our planet from today’s threats in order to sustain and improve our quality of life. “Solar Impulse’s” ambition is for the world of exploration and innovation to contribute to the cause of renewable energies, to demonstrate the importance of clean technologies for sustainable development, and to place dreams and emotions back at the heart of scientific adventure.

At the Paris climate summit in December this year, 196 countries will meet and muster their efforts towards the conclusion of a new global climate compact. The benefits of action, and the consequences of inaction, are becoming ever clearer. Typhoon Haiyan, which in late 2013 hit the Visayas region with its devastating consequences, is just one of an increasing number of climate change induced calamities underlining the case for action. Governments, business and civil society are heeding this call. And by changing the perception of the impossible, initiatives like “Solar Impulse” demonstrate what is possible. This does not make a strong global agreement automatic or easy. But it does raise the prospect that serious multilateral co-operation can achieve this common goal.

There is clear evidence that climate change can only be effectively tackled if overall ambitions are further raised. To bolster individual countries’ efforts on carbon reduction and the promotion of renewable energies, stronger national and international efforts are as important as the conclusion of a global agreement. Likewise, what is also needed are pioneers like Piccard and Borschberg, who show why surpassing personal limits makes sense, who push back the boundaries of the impossible and who maintain the drive to make new discoveries with the aim of improving the quality of life on our planet.

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(Ivo Sieber is the Ambassador of Switzerland.)