Environment & Energy | Monday 9 March, 2015 12:25 am |

This morning in Abu Dhabi, ahead of the departure of the First Round-The-World Solar Flight, starting Monday morning March 9th at 7:30, Solar Impulse launched the #FutureIsClean movement to gather worldwide support for the use of clean energy.

Swiss Explorers Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg, Solar Impulse founders and pilots, said: "Only a significant support will push governments to replace old polluting technologies with clean and efficient technologies. This is what we want to create throughout our solar powered Round-The-World Flight. If there are technological solutions to fly a plane day and night without fuel, imagine the potential of these technologies in our daily lives, to achieve energy savings and reduce CO2 emissions. This would help create jobs, develop new industrial markets while also protecting the environment”.

The platform www.FutureIsClean.org, was designed with the support of our web partner, Google, and aims to mobilize individuals, organizations, celebrities and politicians to confront the Conference on Climate Change of the United Nations (COP21), which will define the new Kyoto protocol in December 2015 in Paris. The goal is to establish the largest petition ever created to convince governments to implement technological solutions that are necessary. Every site visitor is asked to add their voice to the message "I want concrete solutions for a clean future" and share amongst their networks.

Several pages of the site will be dedicated to organizations and influential personalities that are joining the movement such as Solar Impulse’s long-term supporters HH Prince Albert of Monaco and Richard Branson, Masdar, Irena, New 7 Wonders and Green Cross International. A global ranking is going to be organized within the community in order to valorize the actions realized by its participants: Invitation of friends, sharing on social networks, sending of photos, and promotion of the hashtag #FutureIsClean.
“We need to encourage those negotiating on our behalf to be bold and make 2015 the year where we stop damaging our planet. The future is now and the future is you. Tackling climate change is the biggest adventure of the 21st century. Be part of the #FutureIsClean generation” said Adventurer, Philanthropist and Virgin Founder Richard Branson.
Chairman of Masdar and UAE Minister of State H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, a patron of the movement remarked, “I am proud and honored to be a patron of this imperative movement on behalf of the United Arab Emirates and Masdar. The 'Future is Clean' is aligned with our country’s objectives, as Masdar and Abu Dhabi are committed to diversifying the global energy mix with reliable wind and solar power. The world has a shared responsibility – and collective action must be taken – to create a cleaner future. This movement, spearheaded by Solar Impulse, is one of the many ways we can attain our shared objectives and reach a sustainable tomorrow."

The platform #FutureIsClean is also accessible through the updated site www.solarimpulse.com, designed to follow the progression of the airplane Si2 during its travel around the world. Visitors and supporters of the solar project will have the chance to keep up to date about the flight path, its legs ,as well as the life of the pilot on board. Users can directly live the adventure and follow the pilot in his conversations with the Mission Control Center in Monaco (MCC). Moreover, a virtual cockpit provides the telemetrics of Si2 (altitude, speed, battery level, equipment on board, etc.) and invites children and supporters to immerse themselves into the technical and human challenges that Solar Impulse embarks upon.