Protect Our Winters

Protect Our Winters (POW) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that focuses its efforts on legislation regarding climate change. The nonprofit, created in 2007 by professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones, strives to turn outdoor enthusiasts into climate advocates. According to the group's mission statement, "Protect Our Winters leads a community of athletes, creative-pioneers and business leaders to achieve this mission." The organization's headquarters are located in Boulder, Colorado, United States.

Protect Our Winters
Protect Our Winters Logo
AbbreviationPOW
MottoPOW turns passionate outdoor people into climate advocates.
Founded2007
TypeNon-governmental organization, non-profit organization
PurposeClimate Action, Outdoor Industry, Environmentalism
HeadquartersBoulder, Colorado
Region served
Worldwide
Founder and President
Jeremy Jones
Executive Director
Mario Molina
WebsiteProtect Our Winters


Policy Agenda

According to the nonprofit's Policy webpage, POW focuses its efforts on legislation regarding carbon pricing, solar, public lands, and transportation.

Carbon Pricing

  • POW believes in setting an economy-wide price on carbon
  • Instead of fighting individual legislative battles for one regulation at a time, POW believes that by putting a price on carbon we can reduce emissions more efficiently.

Solar

  • POW believes in transitioning to a clean energy economy by investing in solar energy.
  • To realistically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels as a source of power, the group believes in utilizing clean sources of energy.

Transportation

  • POW believes in utilizing innovative transit solutions to minimize greenhouse gas emissions.
  • POW believes there is a clear need for strong advocacy of innovative solutions to transform the transportation sector.

Public Lands

  • POW believes in reducing fossil fuel emission from our public lands.
  • The extraction and burning of fossil fuels release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses, including methane. POW believes that by protecting public lands, it will, in turn, protect the climate.

Activism

According to POW's website, they aim to utilize its members, partners and Alliance members in advocating for its cause. POW’s partnerships with brands and CEOs continue to grow. In 2018, POW executed two congressional briefings and three lobby days, including the highest attended annual September Lobby Day (35 attendees meeting with a total of 30 Congressional Offices). They had nine companies represented, including Alterra Mountain Company, Aspen Skiing Company, Bemis Associates, Burton, Mt. Bachelor, POWDR Corporation, Ski Utah, Smartwool, and Spyder.

In December 2012, POW worked in partnership with environmental agency, Natural Resources Defense Council to publish a study determining how climate change is affecting the economy of the winter sport and tourism industry in the United States.[1]

The organization, despite the United States federal government shutdown of 2013, sent a delegation to Washington to meet with senators and discuss the issues surrounding climate change.[2]

On December 3, 2013, POW spoke with the United States Environmental Protection Agency(EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy on POW's influence on the winter sport community and POW agreed to fully support the EPA and Clean Air Act (United States).[3]

POW partnered with several Yale students to meet with winter athletes during the 2014 Winter Olympics at Sochi to promote a more open discussion about the effects of climate change.[4]

POW also participated at a march at New York City during the UN Climate Summit of 2014.[5]

Members and Support

POW receives financial support from well known companies such as The North Face, Patagonia and CLIF Bar as well as many other corporate companies, partners, foundations, individuals and resorts.[6]

References
  1. "Climate Impacts on the Winter Tourism Economy in the United States". www.nrdc.org. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  2. "Aspen Climate Activists Take Pitch to DC". aspenjournalism.org. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  3. "Protect Our Winters Discusses Climate Solutions with EPA". powder.com. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  4. "A Message for Sochi: Students Pitch Climate Story at Olympics". environment.yale.edu. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  5. "What Has Protect Our Winters Done to Stop Climate Change This Year?". tetongravity.com. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  6. "Protect Our Winters: Partners". protectourwinters.org. Archived from the original on 16 April 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
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