PRESS RELEASE – 18th of March 2012

TOPtoTOP Global Climate Expedition under the patronage of United Nations Environment Program arrived in Rio de Janero for the World Earth Summit Rio20+. This unique initiative will operate in Brazil from April to October 2012.

The expedition will achieve a world record, by being the first to travel all climate zones - over the 7 Seas to the 7 Summits - using only Nature’s Power and in a sustainable manner for the environment! The expedition is a reference to demonstrate that great goals and progress can be achieved in balance with nature.


The Swiss family Schwörer is the core expedition team. The 4 children are born on the expedition. Alegra the youngest crew on board is only 10 months old. Volunteers are joining the family. They are engaged in educational activities with schools and universities, inspiring the use of clean energy and sustainable living. So far they have sailed 48’000 nautical miles in their expedition vessel, climbed over 400’000 vertical meters, cycled over 18’000 kilometers and visited over 50’000 students!

The goal of the expedition is to bring awareness of environmental issues, to promote the search for environmentally compatible solutions and to encourage the start of projects beneficial to our climate and the environment. 


All these achievements would never have been made possible without the generous support of their sponsors, particularly their two major sponsors SGS and Victorinox. Their support as well as the patronage of the United Nations Environmental Program and Presence Switzerland is a crucial aspect of the success of the TOPtoTOP expedition. Both companies and organizations are great examples of institutions that are increasingly embracing the principles of environmental sustainability in their planning, reporting and decision-making.

In Brazil they already experienced support for their activities and projects from the "Irate Clube de Rio de Janeiro", "Escuola Suica-Brasileira", Swiss General Consul, "Humanitare", "Planetario de Rio"...

For further information and live updates on the expedition’s progress, please visit the TOPtoTOP website: www.toptotop.org ...and their blog: www.expedition.toptotop.org

To arrange free school visits and public presentations or for film material, pictures and interviews with the team, kindly contact: Dario Schwörer, email: dario@toptotop.org