Backcountry Beacon

Imagine a world in which the areas you love to hike or backpack are being consumed one by one by wildfire each summer, or the mountain you love to ski or ride has diminishing snow cover each winter. This mental exercise shouldn’t be a stretch for any of us—these scenarios are already happening. Additionally, picture the outdoor industry’s future profits disappearing as fast as Arctic sea ice.

Hence the step the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) recently took toward preserving outdoor recreation as we know it for those generations born into the not-so-distant future.

Last month, the OIA joined the Business for Innovative Climate & Energy Policy (BICEP), a coalition of major American businesses (including Nike, Starbucks, Timberland, Patagonia, Aspen Skiing Company, and The North Face) that is pushing for the passage of climate and clean energy legislation.

Frank Hugelmeyer, OIA’s president, was quoted as saying:

Healthy public lands that support the nation’s $730 billion outdoor recreation economy are imperiled by a warming climate. The outdoor recreation industry and those who pursue outdoor activities are among the first to experience the impacts of climate change on our public lands. We believe our industry is in a unique position and has a responsibility to offer leadership on this important issue.

Read more on the OIA website and here.

Related Posts:

• More Outdoor Giving
• Summertime and the Giving is Easy
• The Great White(bark) Fight

Tags: climate change, environment, outdoor companies