Parker Liautaud

Parker Liautaud (born August 12, 1994) is a polar adventurer and environmental campaigner. In 2013 he and explorer Doug Stoup completed the fastest human-powered trek from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole.[1] Liautaud is the youngest man to walk to the South Pole without resupplies.[1] He graduated from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.[2]

Parker Liautaud
Born
Parker Liautaud

(1994-08-12) August 12, 1994
Palo Alto, California,
United States of America
NationalityAmerican
EducationYale University
Known forPolar Exploration, Environmental Campaigner
Parent(s)Bernard Liautaud
WebsiteParkerLiautaud.com

Polar expeditions

By the age of 17, Liautaud had undertaken three expeditions to the North Pole.[3] At 19 years old, he led the Willis Resilience Expedition to the South Pole, a two-part Antarctic journey with Willis Group that included a 1900 km crossing of Antarctica to conduct climate change research, followed by a 560 km trek from the edge of Antarctica to the South Pole.[4] On December 24, 2013, Liautaud and fellow explorer Doug Stoup completed the expedition, setting a new record for the fastest human-powered trek from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole.[1] Liautaud became the youngest man to trek to the South Pole at the time.[1]

During the Willis Resilience Expedition, Parker and his team conducted live-streaming video interviews to news shows including Good Morning America [5] and CNBC's Squawk Box.[2]

Climate change

Liautaud has been actively working on climate issues since the age of 14.[3] He has interviewed world leaders, such as former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, in front of large audiences.[6] In September 2013, former US Vice President Al Gore interviewed Liautaud in a session at the United Nations Foundation Social Good Summit.[7]

Liautaud has been outspoken about the need to address the business risks of climate change. In remarks from the main stage at the Clinton Global Initiative's 2014 Annual Meeting, he noted that “our world is entering an unprecedented risk landscape”, adding that “a risk-based approach drives action and builds resilience”.[8] In a September 2014 interview with The Wall Street Journal's Digital Network, Liautaud noted that he believed that the private sector was best positioned to tackle climate change, but added that “at the moment, I don't think that we're adequately preparing for the risks of the world that we're headed into. There definitely are the risks that exist, but businesses aren't taking them seriously enough right now”.[9]

In a June 2014 op-ed he wrote for UN Women, Liautaud pointed out the “abundant” evidence connecting climate change to problems of gender equality, and called for greater action to tackle gender-based inequalities, describing it “a non-negotiable priority”.[10]

Liautaud is currently completing his PhD at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts under Peter Huybers.

Awards and honours

In December 2013, while in Antarctica for the Willis Resilience Expedition, Liautaud was named to Time Magazine's top 30 people under 30 changing the world.[11]

In March 2014, Liautaud was honoured by The White House as a Champion of Change for “engaging the next generation of conservation leaders”.[12]

References
  1. "Teenager sets record for fastest trek from Antarctic coast to south pole". the Guardian.
  2. Jeff Morganteen (2013-12-12). "Teenage Yale student attempts record trek to South Pole for research and climate change". Cnbc.com. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  3. "Parker Liautaud". Parker Liautaud. Archived from the original on 2016-10-27. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  4. "Parker Liautaud". Parker Liautaud. Archived from the original on 2015-07-03. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  5. ABC News. "19-Year-Old Parker Liautaud Expected to Set World Record in Antarctica". ABC News.
  6. "How can young people join in the debate about climate change?". The Elders.
  7. "Al Gore, Melinda Gates, Malala And More At The Social Good Summit". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-07-02.
  8. Parker Liautaud Discusses Climate Change in the Arctic - CGI 2014 Annual Meeting. YouTube. 16 October 2014.
  9. "Polar Explorer Parker Liautaud Talks Climate Change". wsj.com. 23 September 2014.
  10. "Parker Liautaud - UN Women – Beijing+20". Field Office Beijing Plus.
  11. "Parker Liautaud - TIME 30 Under 30: World Changers - TIME.com". TIME.com. 2013-12-06.
  12. "Engaging Americans in the Challenge of Climate Resilience". The White House.
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