30.000 kilometers is a long distance. An extremely long distance, even. If Johan Ernst Nilson makes it, he will be the first person in the world to travel between the two poles in a climate neutral way. Photo: Pole2Pole.
If the Swedish adventurer Johan Ernst Nilson is to be considered courageous or slightly crazy, I will leave up to everyone to decide for themselves. but no doubt it’s a big challenge he has take on: Traveling from the North pole to the South pole – by climate neutral means of transport.
Skis, kites, dogsleds, solar poert, bikes and sailboat has been his ans his crew’s means of conveyance ever since they started their trip on April 6 last year. Their goal is to reach the Antarctic about one year later.
So, why does Johan Ernst Nilson do this?
The way I see it, I have an important message to communicate. My mission is to raise awareness and empower all of us to choose sustainable solutions. I know from previous expeditions that people listen and both individuals and corporations are inspired to act more sustainably themselves in the future.
he writes on his expedition blog.
Cold, indeed. Johan Ernst Nilson's nose tip looks deep frozen to me. Photo: Pole2Pole.
- Even if the expedition in itself does not use fossil fuel engined vehicles, Johan Ernst Nilson has had to do so in order to get to the North Pole and also to save himself when an iceberg the size of Berlin collapsed in the Antarctic.
– But I am firmly determined to carry through the expedition in a climate neutral way, and I will return to the place where the airplane picked me up in order to continue from there to the Antarctic without motor, says Johan Ernst Nilson.
The hardships experienced by the expedition surpass most of what I personally would ever go through voluntarily: Johan has got his toes frostbitten, cracked several ribs, lost more than 30 kilos, traveled in both extreme heat and extreme cold – and through two hurricanes.
But I must admit there’s something reassuring in the fact that it is possible to transport yourself so far with such simple means. After seeing this, who can complain about spending a few nights on the train or on a boat in order to get to their destination?
Among Johan Ernst Nilson’s earlier adventures is a bicycle trip from Stockholm to Sahara in 52 days. Maybe that would be something for next holiday…
Other sustainability related articles in Swedish media (in Swedish, but can be autotranslated here):
Miljöaktuellt: These are the environmental issues that Sweden’s Foreign Minister puts first
Miljöaktuellt: Former NGO leader Steve Howard will help IKEA towards sustainablility
Aftonbladet: Oil ship risks leaking large quantities of diesel oil outside Sweden’s East coast
Supermiljöbloggen: Households pay more for their emissions than business
