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Solar Impulse: “Monaco must be a

pilot laboratory”

Interview by Milena Radoman
This is Bertrand Piccard’s credo: “The Solar Impulse flight showed
the world that it is possible to push the limits of technology to build
the foundations for a sustainable future. If an aeroplane is able to
fly around the world without a single drop of fuel, there is no doubt
that clean technologies can be used on land to create a cleaner, more
efficient and richer world.” Today, the Savanturier promotes over 1,000
climate solutions labeled by its foundation.

Was it on board the Solar Impulse that the and linked to efficiency. Nowadays we must @ Solar Impulse, Jean Revillard, Rezo
trigger for these 1,000 concrete solutions be aware that developing consumption and
to fight against global warming happened? production leads to disaster!
The light bulb moment came when I crossed the
Atlantic aboard the Solar Impulse. I launched In real terms, a group of 420 independent
the Global Alliance for Efficient Solutions experts work to determine whether or not a however, the question arises: should we risk
because now was the time to bring together solution can obtain the Solar Impulse Efficient increasing global warming by a few degrees
all those who have cost-effective solutions to Solution label. How did you identify reliable or exploit a few additional cobalt mines by
fight global warming. I then realised that it was and profitable solutions? imposing respected human rights and ecological
not enough to bring together the promoters These solutions were hand-picked, the label standards? There are three options today:
of these solutions, they had to be labeled. We resulting from three criteria: a solution must continue with combustion vehicles creating
needed to demonstrate that there are currently exist now, because we do not want vague ideas ecological problems; switch to electric mobility
clean solutions capable of replacing those of for the future; financially, it must be profitable for which means extracting materials from our
yesterday, which are less efficient and above those who produce it and for those who use it; soils; or stop moving altogether, stop all cars
all very polluting, whilst still generating profits, and, of course, it must protect the environment. and stop climate change. What is the best and
jobs and growth. It took four years to set up most realistic option? Electric mobility is about
the label, the appraisal process, bring together Is the carbon footprint of each solution batteries with wheels. Cars are parked 95% of
clean tech producers, investors and so on. On calculated? Some studies estimate, for the time and plugged into the power grid. Why
13 March 2021, we crossed the finish line with example, that an electric car, over its entire are car batteries still prohibited from storing
1,000 labeled solutions – and today, there are life cycle, generates three quarters of the energy? Battery chargers aren’t even made to
even more. All that remains is to develop them carbon emissions of a car fuelled with petrol... pass electricity back and forth.
and present them to business leaders who, There were also studies saying that cigarettes
until now, have been torn between economic did not cause cancer or addiction, or that oil Are you going to advocate the 1,000 solutions
and ecological needs. does not change global warming! Some studies and regulatory changes during your world tour?
are published by conservatives who want the In a very concrete way, we will identify for each
The 1,000 solutions are very varied: plant- current system to continue. A manufacturer in country the solutions that will reduce their
based washing up liquid, biodegradable and France sharply criticised the electric car before greenhouse gas emissions. We have set up a
edible plastic from dairy industry waste, the company was forced to take it up too. All cleanprint to counterbalance the footprint. Our
cattle fodder additive for livestock which new opportunities benefit pioneers and scare teams see which solutions are best applied,
reduces methane emissions by 30% (and, at those who want nothing to change. depending on the typology of the country (desert,
the same time, increases the production of urban, connected, continental etc). The audit
milk), energy recovery for factories, efficient It remains difficult to recycle the batteries of changes depending on the country. There are
transport planning for cities. There are multiple electric vehicles, not to mention the problem countries where electricity is made with coal,
objectives - are you targeting individuals, of rare metals highlighted by certain experts others with nuclear, which is more carbon-free.
manufacturers and communities? like Guillaume Pitron? We scrutinise the needs of each country.
Exactly. We believe we need to offer solutions Guillaume Pitron is right to have sounded the
from production to consumption! The aim is alarm bell. Regulations on the extraction of So the audit is personalised. Will Monaco be
to cover all of the needs. GDP needs to be raw materials need to be improved to better a pilot city to test the solutions?
decoupled from consumption and production respect human rights. On the other hand, Monaco needs to be a pilot laboratory and this

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