Switzerland’s Bertrand Piccard received the designation during a ceremony at the Musée de l’Homme in Paris. The Swiss solar energy champion is currently in Paris attending the UN climate talks where he is advocating for an ambitious climate change agreement with a strong focus on renewable energy, writes UNEP in a news release.
Piccard and his Solar Impulse co-founder and co-pilot André Borschberg are bringing attention to the potential of solar energy by attempting to fly around the world without using a drop of fuel. So far they have covered close to 20,000 kilometres. The solar-powered airplane is currently wintering in Hawaii where it was grounded earlier this year due to overheated batteries. It is set to resume its record-breaking journey in April 2016.
In his capacity as UNEP Goodwill Ambassador, Piccard will use his popularity to convince policy makers, entrepreneurs and communities that a carbon-neutral world is within our grasp. He calls the designation “an encouragement to continue showing how many incredible things can be done with renewable energies.”