Alex Honnold on Climbing, Climate Change, and the Power of Renewable Energy

Alex Honnold, the world-famous rock climber, is best known for his death-defying ascents, including his recent live climb of Taiwan’s Taipei 101 tower for Netflix. Yet his most meaningful work may lie in his advocacy for renewable energy through the Honnold Foundation, which supports community-led solar projects worldwide.

Honnold spoke with Katherine Bagley, Editor-in-Chief of Grist, at Turning the Tide: Stories of Climate Solutions, an event held during San Francisco Climate Week. He shared how his climbing expeditions have exposed the rapid environmental changes driven by climate change.

“Go on enough trips like this,” Honnold said, referring to his climbs in remote regions, “and you just see how much it matters.”

He emphasized the link between renewable energy and land conservation: “A lot of these projects basically help protect the land in a way that you wouldn’t necessarily assume. Empowering local communities is always a good way to protect the land on which they live.”

Honnold also reflected on the visible impact of climate change on mountain landscapes. “A lot of things that used to be approaches or descents up snowy couloirs … those are mostly melted out,” he noted. “Basically, big mountains you see change very quickly right now. It’s pretty sobering.”

Despite these challenges, Honnold advocates for optimism, urging focus on progress rather than despair. “I personally am just not inspired by pessimism at all,” he said. “The environment has been severely degraded, we’ve lost a lot for sure, but if you were just dropped onto this planet right here, right now, and you just looked around in the natural world, you’d think, ‘This is incredible.’ There’s so much life, the natural world is still amazing, and there’s still so much to protect.”

Climate Awareness: From Climbing to Conservation

During the interview, Bagley asked Honnold when climate change became part of his personal conversation. His response highlighted a gradual shift in perspective.

Katherine Bagley: “You and I are about the same age, and I remember as kids growing up in the ‘80s and ‘90s, it was like the recycling ads and the oil spills and that we had to save the ozone layer. And I’m curious when climate became part of the conversation for you.”

Alex Honnold: “Yeah, honestly, I’m not sure. None of those things really speak to me. I think that I was probably not that environmentally aware as a child. I mean, my parents are both professors. I grew up in Sacramento, just sort of a suburban California kid. And I think those weren’t big things in my house. I don’t think either of my parents were profound environmentalists in any way, even though we went camping and stuff, but that’s kind of different. And so I think it really was as I started to travel as a rock climber and go on expeditions. I mean, basically I just started reading a lot more. I read a ton of environmental nonfiction and just started to care a little more, and then…”

Renewable Energy as a Tool for Land Protection

Honnold’s foundation focuses on solar energy as a means to both combat climate change and support local communities. His experiences in remote, climate-vulnerable regions have reinforced his belief in sustainable solutions.

“You just see how much it matters,” he reiterated, underscoring the tangible benefits of renewable energy projects in preserving fragile ecosystems.

For those interested in his full remarks, the video of the event is available online, along with edited excerpts from the interview.