Climate change is proving to have serious, irreversible effects on many aspects of the world. Now is the time for us to take action against climate change, which threatens the sustainability of the snowfields that are so important to skiers and snowboarders
POW (Protect Our Winters) is an organization that takes action and makes choices that are conscious of a decarbonized society in order to protect natural fields from the threat of climate change. They are engaged in a variety of initiatives, including building alliances and raising awareness about the issue of climate change
The beginning of POW (Protect Our Winters)
Jeremy Jones, a professional snowboarder who has ridden big mountains around the world as a core member of the Jackson Hole, USA, film company TGR (Teton Gravity Research), founded Protect Our Winters (POW) in 2007. With a strong passion and clear vision to "protect our snowfields and the snow of the future," POW's activities have spread to 13 countries around the world through the efforts of fellow snow-loving mountain lovers
Then, in February 2019, Protect Our Winters Japan was finally launched in Japan
The person who sparked this movement was Goro Komatsu, a professional snowboarder who has been a leader in the Japanese snowboarding scene for many years. He has long been conscious of the importance of protecting the natural environment and has continued to advocate for its necessity
With Goro Komatsu at the center, POW Japan's activities began in Hakuba, a mountainous region that Japan is proud of around the world
https://protectourwinters.jp/
who are passionate about outdoor activities and
https://protectourwinters.jp/ "What is Protect Our Winters?"
are taking action to protect their fields and lifestyles from climate change.
POW carries out a variety of activities based on this mission. Their vision is to "achieve a carbon-free society initiated by the snow community." So that people can continue to ski on these beautiful snowy mountains forever... To protect our irreplaceable natural fields from the climate crisis, we need to make choices and take actions with a zero-carbon mindset. We want this to become the standard in our snow community... To achieve a carbon-free society, we need to change the way society works. POW argues that to do this, each and every person must take action to bring about change. POW Japan is actively engaged in the following initiatives:
Movement Building (POW
) aims to raise awareness of its existence and activities, thereby increasing people's interest in climate change.
Even a change in one person's awareness can become a powerful force when many such changes come together to form a community.
We want to mobilize the power of the community to solve the problem.
POW welcomes professional snowboarders, professional skiers, and other skiers who are passionate about snowy mountains as ambassadors, and by spreading POW's message more deeply and broadly, it expands its network and connects its circle of friends through a variety of events
Advocate Training & Engagement (
POW) encompasses a wide range of awareness and educational actions, including symposiums, workshops, and events. To empower communities and solve problems, the environmental education program "Hot Planet Cool Athletes" targets middle and high school students and outdoor communities, providing knowledge about climate change alongside athletes, encouraging everyone to think about solutions and take action.
Efforts toward a decarbonized society:
From the perspective of the snow community and the outdoor community, we will take concrete steps toward realizing a decarbonized society at all levels, including individuals, companies, communities, and local governments. With the goal of reducing CO₂ emissions, a leading greenhouse gas considered to be a cause of global warming, POW will demonstrate strong leadership and push forward actions together with local governments in ski resorts and snow areas.
Examples of POW JAPAN actions
Since its inception, POW JAPAN has collaborated with local communities, government agencies, companies, and ambassadors to carry out various actions. These include the "Global Climate March in Hakuba," a Hakuba version of the "Climate March" held in September 2019, as well as workshops on climate change, activities to promote participation in elections, and the official video channel"POW JAPAN CHANNEL," all of which have been featured on STEEP.
"THINK SNOW," we intend to closely and continuously follow POW's ideas and various actions going forward. Following this "About POW Part 1," an interview with Goro Komatsu about the background of POW Japan's establishment in Japan and its philosophy will be published soon. Stay tuned!