Michael Walther Sets Out on a 650-Kilometer Zero-Emissions Expedition

Halle (Saale) – German extreme athlete, filmmaker, and climate activist Michael Walther will set out on August 18 on an extraordinary stand-up paddleboarding expedition. His route will take him approximately 650 kilometers from Halle via the Saale, Elbe, Elde, Müritz, and Peene rivers to the Baltic Sea. The tour is part of his international project ZERO EMISSIONS, which has been combining extreme sports with environmental and marine conservation as well as social engagement for many years.

But the journey is meant to be much more than just a physical challenge. Walther wants to bring people together along the route, visit various initiatives, and raise awareness of volunteer efforts. The focus is on encounters with people who are committed to environmental and climate protection, democracy, and global justice.

“Sports can bring people together and raise awareness. I want to show that every single person can make a difference and that, together, we are stronger than the challenges we face.”

Research and nature conservation are part of the expedition

The expedition is also part of scientific projects. Michael Walther regularly collaborates with renowned research institutions, including the German National Commission for UNESCO, the Alfred Wegener Institute, and GEOMAR. During his expeditions, he collects data for research on rivers and oceans, among other things.

After crossing Germany, the next challenge lies ahead

As early as 2022, Walther paddled across Germany—from Basel to Kiel at the time. Now his focus is on central Germany and northeastern Germany. Just last year, the extreme athlete also attempted to become the first European to cross the Atlantic on a specially designed stand-up paddleboard. The attempt had to be abandoned after a collision with floating debris.

ZERO EMISSIONS combines extreme sports with social engagement

The ZERO EMISSIONS project was founded in 2008 and uses extraordinary expeditions, films, and lectures to inspire people to care about the environment and climate protection. Among its best-known productions are the internationally acclaimed documentaries *The Great Route* and *Time to Act*, the latter of which is currently nominated for the German Nature Film Award.

With his current journey, Michael Walther hopes to demonstrate once again that extreme sports can be much more than just athletic excellence—namely, a platform for connecting people with one another and with nature.