Protect Our Winters launches POW Europe

Innsbruck, 24 January 2020 – The climate organisation Protect Our Winters (POW) is pleased to announce the launch of its European branch, Protect Our Winters Europe, to coordinate and leverage the power of its growing network of eight national POW chapters in Europe, and lead the implementation of its 2020 European Strategy Plan.

Protect Our Winters was founded in 2007 by professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones as an organisation that bands together outdoor athletes, creative minds, and business leaders to effect change and work toward a carbon neutral future. Jeremy will be present at a special launch event being held this Sunday, the opening day of ISPO, the sports trade fair that is Europe’s biggest annual gathering of the outdoor sports industry.

POW’s European country chapters – in Austria, Germany, France, Switzerland, Finland, Norway, Sweden and the UK – have been growing rapidly in recent years. They are strongly rooted in their outdoor communities and have their ear to the ground on national and local issues, from northernmost Lapland to the southern Alps and Pyrenees.

POW Europe, which will be based in Innsbruck, Austria, works to transform those local strengths into cohesive and impactful Europe-wide climate action. “The POW chapters are already doing great work, adding a fresh voice and energy to the climate movement in their respective countries,” says POW Europe joint coordinator and POW Norway board chair, Brita Staal. “POW Europe aims to build on our chapters’ strengths at the European level, amplify national campaigns, lead European-wide initiatives and provide a single, coordinated point of contact for European partners, with whom we collaborate on impactful climate action.”

A number of outdoor brands have already stepped up to support POW Europe in its mission to turn passionate outdoor people into effective climate advocates. Last summer, at POW’s annual Global Summit, Burton Snowboards and Nidecker Group – on behalf of Nidecker and Jones Snowboards – committed to supporting POW’s work in Europe, each donating $50,000 to the organisation.

Outdoor businesses as a force for climate good

It is no coincidence that POW is launching Protect Our Winters Europe at ISPO. The outdoor industry is on the front line of seeing the impacts wrought on the natural world by climate change. Outdoor businesses depend on snow, ice and rock, and on reliable seasons, and their products are all about getting outside and enjoying the natural world. But they also have an impact on that environment.

POW Europe is present at the show to support and encourage all outdoor businesses across Europe to be a force for climate good, not only by setting carbon reduction targets in their operations but also by speaking up on climate and the changes they are seeing first hand.

In that spirit, POW invites interested participants and press to:

– visit the POW Europe booth at the Sustainability Hub (A2.40.a) throughout the show
– join them for the POW Europe launch and Q&A with POW founder Jeremy Jones, on Sunday 26th January, 1-2pm, Sustainability Hub Stage (A2)
– attend the POW Climate Leadership Breakfast on Monday 27th January, 9-10am, Sustainability Hub Stage (A2)
– celebrate the launch of POW Europe at a Happy Hour hosted by Jones and Klean Kanteen, on Monday 27th January, 5pm onwards (B4-112)

“There are an estimated 60 million skiers and snowboarders in Europe, a third the number of people who voted in the last European elections,” says Staal’s co-coordinator in Europe and POW France founder, Marita van Oldenborgh. “Together with climbers, trail runners, many other outdoor enthusiasts and the massive outdoor recreation industry, we can be a powerful force to make a difference on climate.”

#poweurope #protectourwinters