Lewis Pugh Completes Antarctic Swim For Climate Action

January 31, 2020 

Last week, climate activist and UN Patron of the Oceans, Lewis Pugh completed a 10 minute and 17-second swim under the East Antarctic ice sheet to call for action on climate change and for the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around Antarctica. 

Pugh was the first Beyond Sport Global Award winner in the Climate category for his environmental advocacy in 2009. His campaigns are also supported in part with our sister company, thinkBeyond.

Pugh's advocacy work has been instrumental in protecting over 2.2 million km of ocean, an area larger than Western Europe. He hopes that his swim in Antarctica will be a catalyst for the creation of a network of MPAs in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica, one of the world's last great ocean wildernesses. 

Speaking immediately after his post-swim recovery, Lewis commented: 

“I swam here today as we are in a climate emergency. We need immediate action from all nations to protect our planet.” 

Pugh continued, “I hope that my swim underneath the Antarctic ice sheet will ignite international leaders and lead to the introduction of the Marine Protected Areas this region so critically needs.” 

“Wherever I looked there were large rivers of water carving their way through the ice sheet. I have no doubt whatsoever that we are now facing a climate emergency. We do not have 50 years or 20 years or even 10 years to solve this crisis. We have run out of time. The time for action is now." 

During his swim, Pugh was flanked by a multi-national support team. Integral to this was Slava Fetisov, the UN Patron of the Polar Regions ice-hockey legend and former Russian Sports Minister. "I have spent my professional life as a defenseman. Now I am here with Lewis and our team and the mission has never been more critical. The world needs more defenders and protectors. These regions are melting before our eyes. We cannot delay any longer but must act on this Climate Emergency now." 

In addition, Lewis was supported by the former president of Costa Rica and Chairman of the Antarctica 2020 group José María Figueres, who has been working to build consensus amongst the nations directly responsible for protecting Antarctica. 

"It has been a truly remarkable experience to be here with Lewis in this frozen and fragile continent. We hope this swim will highlight how this place is right on the edge. We hope that this will galvanize leaders into understanding the issue and securing for the oceans around Antarctica the protection they deserve. We all rely on Antarctica for our survival." 

MPAs help ecosystems build resilience against the impacts of climate change by protecting them from human activities such as industrial fishing. In 2016, Pugh was instrumental in the creation of the first MPA in the Ross Sea off Antarctica. At 1.5 million km it is the largest protected area in the world – on land or in the sea. 

Currently, there are three MPA proposals under consideration in the waters of East Antarctica, the Weddell Sea and around the Antarctic Peninsula. To date, all countries and the EU have agreed to the protection of the next MPA in East Antarctica, with the exception of Russia and China. Straight after his swim, Lewis will head to Moscow to hold talks with Russia’s political leadership.  

"I have been swimming in the ocean for over 30 years and I have seen them change dramatically. I have no doubt that we are now facing a Climate Emergency. Ice is melting at an unprecedented rate at both ends of the earth,” said Pugh.  

Following the completion of the swim, Lewis traveled to Moscow to take part in Russia’s celebration of the 200th anniversary of the discovery of Antarctica. He held talks with key decision makers within Russia’s political leadership before traveling to London for a series of media interviews and official meetings. 

Beyond Sport is devoted to supporting Goal 13 Climate Action and through our Collective Impact Awards, we drive greater progress towards this goal with our Climate Action Collective Impact Award. To find out more about our Collective Impact Awards click here.