We empower fellow outdoor enthusiasts who are taking action to protect their fields and lifestyles from climate change
From "What is Protect Our Winters?"
Protect Our Winters JAPAN (POW JAPAN) has been active since February 2019
POW was originally founded in 2007 when professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones saw snow resorts constantly being unable to open due to lack of snow, and decided to take action after noticing something strange about it
JEREMY JONES
Goro Komatsu,
The average global temperature has risen by 0.9 degrees from 1880 to the present, and a temperature rise of 1.15 degrees has been recorded in Japan
Sea levels have risen by 19 centimetres due to thermal expansion caused by rising ocean temperatures and melting glaciers. These changes are causing extreme weather around the world, and 97% of scientists worldwide agree that rising carbon dioxide emissions are the cause
So how do you respond to that and take action?
There are over 60 million outdoor sports enthusiasts worldwide, supporting the lives of over 7.6 million people and generating nearly 90 trillion yen in economic activity. While climate change policies and solutions are being led by governments and the business community, the size of the market and the voices of the community cannot be ignored. POW's activities, which began in the United States, have had an impact on snow communities around the world, and the POW network now spans 12 countries
POW JAPAN has also been taking various actions since its inception.
As a partner in these efforts, it has built a collaborative system with 21 businesses, brands, and media outlets, including ski resorts in the Hakuba area, and 16 skiers and snowboarders are serving as ambassadors, conducting awareness campaigns in various locations.
As an example of how these efforts are beginning to bear fruit, from February 2nd to 4th, 2020, all electricity used at Hakuba Iwatake Snowfield was supplied with 100% renewable energy, and from February onwards, the Alpine Quad Lift at Hakuba Happo-One Ski Resort has been running on CO2-free electricity all year round
Photo/Yukari
With climate change becoming palpable, and individual awareness and behavior shifting, there is a growing momentum for us, who love snow-covered mountains and are working with POW, to create a movement that will have an impact on society.
As members of the STEEP editorial team who enjoy snow-covered mountains, we will also take action, however small our contribution may be.