Patronage committee

Federal Councillor
Head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications

Climate protection and a sustainable, secure energy supply require all of us to take a fresh approach, use new tools and enter into new commitments. I am delighted that a growing number of businesses, institutions and private individuals in conjunction with the Swiss foundation myclimate, are taking specific and relevant steps towards a 'low-carbon economy & society' following a science-based and business-oriented approach both nationally here in Switzerland and, in particular, internationally. In doing so, they are also using the positive social and economic opportunities of Cleantech. As Switzerland's minister of the environment, I am glad to support such pragmatic deeds for the future of Switzerland and our world in general.

Founder and Managing Director of Grameen Bank and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, has been instrumental in supporting income generating activities by lending small amounts without collateral to the poor. He went to Vanderbilt University as a Fulbright scholar and did his Ph.D. in Economics. In recent years, he has been promoting the concept of social business, a non-loss, non-dividend company with a social objective, calling it as the critical missing piece in capitalism.

With global warming on the increase and species and their habitats on the decrease, chances for ecosystems to adapt naturally are diminishing. And the need for stopping carbon emission is now at its highest. This is the time for protecting the global climate. I applaud the efforts of myclimate and hope to go forward with them by adding social business in this area.

"Bertrand Piccard is an exceptional personality: a visionary and one of the world's most prominent and inspiring ambassadors for renewable energies and a clean future" says myclimate Managing Director René Estermann.

I became a member of the myclimate patronage committee, in order to continue working together towards the common goal of climate protection. The world today needs concrete solutions that can mitigate climate risks and contribute to sustainable development worldwide. myclimate offers a practical tool to take effective action, both globally and locally.

Professor for Climate Physics at the Institute for Atmospheric and Climate Science of the ETH Zurich
Co-author of the IPCC climate report

Global Warming policy aims to limit warming to no more than two degrees Celsius. That would be feasible in an economical and technological context. However, time is running out and present political efforts are insufficient. It is irrelevant to discuss when and where CO₂ is emitted – it is only relevant to talk about emissions on a global scale. Researchers show the way in which the two-degree target can be reached. They are developing new technology, both for the climate protection and also for the adjustment to climate change. And they are training the young people of today, those who will have to deal with climate change in the future. myclimate arose as a spin-off of the ETH and the ETH has helped myclimate to develop the flight calculator further. Through this, CO₂ emissions can be compensated elsewhere through suitable projects. As every saved gram of CO₂ counts for the climate – no matter where. myclimate provides an important contribution for this.

Chief Economist at the IEA and responsible for the IEA’s flagship World Energy Outlook publication, which is recognised as the most authoritative source of strategic analysis of global energy markets. Founder and chair of the IEA Energy Business Council, which provides a forum to enhance co-operation between the energy industry and energy policymakers.

"Successive editions of the IEA’s World Energy Outlook have shown that the climate goal of limiting warming to 2°C is becoming more difficult and more costly with each year that passes. Almost four-fifths of the carbon dioxide emissions allowable by 2035 are already locked-in by existing power plants, factories, buildings, etc. If action to reduce emissions is not taken before 2017, all the allowable emissions would be locked-in by energy infrastructure. Cutting emissions sufficiently to meet the 2°C goal would require a far-reaching transformation of the global energy system."

Chairperson of the Emirates Environmental Group
Board Member of UN Global Compact

There is a change in climatic conditions brewing; and it is not just forecasted for the future, it is happening today. And regardless of the fact whether we will be able to fix it with our actions alone, I believe that we have to act now! Fifty years from today, I would not want the following generations to claim that we did not do enough to protect the only world we have. So please, let us get together to reduce our individual and collective carbon footprints!

Director general of WWF International from 1993 to 2005
Former chairman of «eco.naturkongress», the most important Swiss platform for sustainability
Vice-chairman of the International Institute for Sustainable Development – IISD from 2006 to 2013

Since climate change now affects all aspects of sustainability – the environmental, social and economic – society as a whole is asked to take action. In this respect myclimate offers a practical and effective tool.

Former member of the German Parliament
Until 2008 dean of the Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California 
Former director of the Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy

Now that flying has been invented, we cannot go back. But flying should be reserved for those situations where it has become irreplaceable.

Chairman of the Board of the Swiss Stock Exchange SWX
Director of the Center for social Leadership and Values, University St. Gallen

Let the dream of flying not turn into our planet's nightmare - each journey begins with a first step.