NPB Private Alum Piccard To Speak At G7 Summit

Bertrand Piccard, explorer, climate advocate, and the first person to complete a non-stop balloon trip around the world, was selected by the French government to address the G7 Summit on climate change. Piccard has long advocated for more ambitious climate policies. 

“We have to address climate change in a way that shows to the economical world that clean and energy efficient solutions are the industrial market of the century to create new jobs and make more profit. So it is not only about protecting the environment and fighting inequality, it’s about generating a qualitative growth,” said Piccard. 

Before becoming an internationally recognized Swiss explorer, Piccard was a student at North Palm Beach Private School. Lower School French teacher and alumna Lisa Arline remembers Piccard as a fellow student at the School. 

“He was two years younger than me, but he was from Switzerland and spoke fluent French, so he was placed in our advanced French class,” Arline said. 

Piccard’s father, Jacques Piccard, was an undersea explorer. His work studying the Gulf Stream brought the family to Florida. 

Arline has since stayed in touch with Piccard. In 1999, Arline encouraged her French students to write letters of congratulations to Piccard following the completion of his first nonstop balloon trip around the world in the Breitling Orbiter 3. Shortly after, Arline received a thank you letter from Piccard along with autographed pictures for her and her students who had written letters. 

According to Piccard’s Solar Impulse Foundation, his speech at the G7 will emphasize the need for reducing the environmental impact of the maritime sector. The summit, created by French President Emmanuel Macron, brings together international leaders to identify innovative solutions and actions to fight climate change. 
 
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A premier PK3 - Grade 12 independent, coeducational day school with campuses in North Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens. Since 1960, The Benjamin School has provided a challenging college preparatory education to a diverse student body in a structured, nurturing community environment.
 
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