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Top storyPOW Europe places focus on Olympic Games after release of Impact Report
Protect Our Winters Europe (POW Europe) has released its 2023 Impact Report, highlighting the action taken to fight the climate crisis. However, the organisation is not stopping there.
The report described 2023 as POW Europe’s most successful year yet, with its letter to the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) said to be the most important initiative.
The group collaborated with Alpine skier Julian Schütter for the letter which urged climate action from the FIS. As a result, it garnered global attention and helped lead to the appointment of the FIS’ first sustainability director and the FIS impact programme.
POW Europe aims to continue exerting its influence on similar organisations and is now aiming for the summit of sport.
“Sports, particularly winter sports and mountain regions, are and will be increasingly impacted by the consequences of climate change and biodiversity loss,” POW Europe Executive Director Jonas Schneider told Global Sustainable Sport.
“Sporting activities and events, essential components of our societies, are both responsible for and victims of climate change.
“We must therefore ensure that everything is done to mitigate their environmental impact, help them adapt to climate change, and ensure they contribute to the ecological transition of our society and benefit the community as a whole.
“Consequently, it is our responsibility to also focus on other upcoming major sporting events, such as the Olympic Games.”
Another pivotal moment of last year for POW Europe was the hosting of the inaugural Ski Industry Climate Summit.
“Sports, particularly winter sports and mountain regions, are and will be increasingly impacted by the consequences of climate change and biodiversity loss."
The event brought together major stakeholders in the hard goods industry, and marked an initial step towards action on climate change within skiing and snowboarding.
“This first Ski Industry Climate Summit was undoubtedly a pivotal moment, showcasing the unity and determination of leading ski brands, dedicated suppliers, and retailers to join forces in advancing climate action within the industry,” Schneider said.
“It acted as a rallying cry, bringing the skiing and snowboarding community together to move beyond individual interests. and collaborate on industry-wide engagement, alignment on standards, or data exchange harmonisation.”
It also paved the way for POW’s collaboration with The Winter Sports Sustainability Network and the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry to announce a climate pact.
This initiative brings together prominent ski, snowboard, binding, and boot brands to accelerate climate action within the winter sports industry.
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