Adventurer Alex Honnold Tackles Climate Crisis and Skyscraper Climb in Taiwan

In the past few years, Alex Honnold, the professional rock climber famous for his ropeless ascent of Yosemite's El Capitan, has taken on a host of projects aimed at environmental conservation and combating climate change. As of October 2025, Honnold is the host of the fifth season of the Planet Visionaries podcast, which provides a platform for scientists and innovators to share their work.

Honnold's foray into environmental advocacy began in 2012 when he founded a nonprofit to fund community solar energy projects around the world. Since then, the Honnold Foundation has supported approximately 120 projects and will distribute around $3 million in grants this year. One recent initiative involved a solar project for a housing complex in São Paulo, Brazil, reducing energy costs for 227 families and providing installation and maintenance training.

Looking ahead, Honnold is training to climb Taiwan's tallest skyscraper without a rope in 2026 for a live Netflix event, a building he has had his eye on for over a decade. Despite his growing responsibilities as a podcast host, philanthropist, husband, and father, the 40-year-old Honnold remains passionate about pushing his limits as a climber, stating that his experience in tackling challenging projects has helped him approach life's biggest obstacles.