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Brian Roberts: Polar Explorer, Treaty Maker, and Conservationist

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Published in Penguin Diplomacy: Brian Roberts Polar Explorer Treaty Maker And Conservationist

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Brian Roberts was a British polar explorer, environmentalist, and conservationist. He was born in London in 1944 and died in 2011. He was a pioneer in the field of polar exploration and was one of the first people to reach the North Pole on foot. He was also a strong advocate for the protection of the polar regions and was instrumental in the creation of the Antarctic Treaty.

Early life

Brian Roberts was born on 23 April 1944 in London, England. He was the son of a Royal Navy officer and was educated at Eton College and the University of Cambridge. He studied geography and geology and became interested in polar exploration at an early age.

Penguin Diplomacy: Brian Roberts polar explorer, treaty maker and conservationist

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Language	:	English
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Polar exploration

In 1968, Roberts joined the British Antarctic Survey and spent two years working in Antarctica. He was a member of the team that established the Rothera Research Station on Adelaide Island. In 1971, he returned to Antarctica as part of the Trans-Antarctic Expedition, which was the first expedition to cross Antarctica on foot.

In 1979, Roberts led the first British expedition to the North Pole. The expedition used dog sleds and took 63 days to reach the Pole.

Environmentalism and conservation

Roberts was a passionate advocate for the protection of the polar regions. He believed that these regions were essential for the health of the planet and that they needed to be protected from exploitation.

In 1978, Roberts was appointed as the UK representative to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. He played a key role in the negotiations that led to the creation of the Antarctic Treaty, which was signed in 1959. The treaty designated Antarctica as a scientific preserve and banned all military activity on the continent.

Roberts was also a founder member of the World Conservation Union (IUCN) and served as its president from 1996-2004. He was a strong supporter of sustainable development and believed that economic development could be achieved without damaging the environment.

Death

Brian Roberts died on 9 April 2011, at the age of 66. He died in a helicopter crash while on a polar expedition. He was survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Legacy

Brian Roberts was a pioneering polar explorer, environmentalist, and conservationist. He was one of the first people to reach the North Pole on foot and was instrumental in the creation of the Antarctic Treaty. He was also a strong advocate for sustainable development and believed that economic development could be achieved without damaging the environment.

Roberts' legacy will live on through the organizations that he founded and the work that he did to protect the polar regions.