Summer is officially over and even though winter is just around the corner, there is a ton going on in regards to climate change legislation over the next few months.

With the focus being in Copenhagen on December 6th, world leaders will attempt to map out a global climate change policy for the future. The outcome of the conference and decisions made will most certainly set the foundation for how we, as a global community, will attempt to solve climate change and how it effects not only us, but generations behind us.

THE NORTH FACE’S “GENERATIONS”
When The North Face came to us last year with an idea to produce a climate change film with them, we couldn’t wait to get started on such a cool project. With additional help from Clif Bar and teaming up with Teton Gravity Research, we all wanted to create a visual piece that would bring the idea of “climate change” to life, giving the term some real-life context and inspiring everyone to get involved.

Available in October, “Generations” is a short film that discusses climate change through the perspectives of those for whom snowy winters have a deeper personal significance. Going beyond charts and numbers, Generations humanizes the debate on climate change by exploring the fragility of winter and the intrinsic value of snow to people across generations and cultures. The film poignantly captures cultural and personal responses from those to whom mountains and snow represent an irreplaceable way of life, ending with ways for everyone to take part in the solution.

The film will be distributed online, but also premiering at film festivals throughout the winter and made available to all of our supporters to show locally. Keep an eye on our website for details. In the meantime, check out the trailer below.

Film participants include: Jeremy Jones, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Seth Morrison, Ingrid Backstrom, Dash Longe, Dr. David Shearer (Climatologist), Ed Stygles (Vermont Farmer), Bill Jenkins (Former Ski Area Owner), Elizabeth Burakowski (Climatologist University of New Hampshire), Randall Osterhuber (Researcher Central Sierra Snow Laboratory), Piere Schropff (Chamonix Mountain Guide) and others.

Check out the trailer:

POW MAKES GRANT TO THE PARK CITY FOUNDATION
Protect Our Winters (POW) made a recent contribution to The Park City Foundation in Park City, UT to help fund the Community Footprint Website, an online resource to sustain Park City’s local, snow based economy and culture by empowering citizens to reduce their water usage and carbon output through an innovative, information sharing community footprint website.

The community carbon and water footprint website allows individuals and organizations to measure their impact on the environment based on their own use of utilities, transportation and other factors. Users will be able to compare their own footprint with neighbors and businesses and will be provided with information and support to help decrease usage and save money. Using the website, citizens and groups will be able to measure how simple actions contribute to the entire community’s reduction. Direct links to local green businesses and government tax incentives and rebates will provide up-to-date and practical information.

“This project is directly in-line with the mission of Protect Our Winters”, said Jeremy Jones, Founder of POW. “We want to support the great work that’s being done locally, providing communities and individuals with the tools and resources to do their part to help fight climate change.”

“Our Community Footprint Website, a partnership between The Park City Foundation and the City of Park City, uniquely provides real data from a user’s utility bill, hyper local information about reduction strategies and a forum to share information and influence neighbors. It will launch at a community event, Save Our Snow II on September 30th” said Trisha Worthington, Executive Director of The Park City Foundation.

ANNOUNCING THE UNION/POW BRANDED BINDING
POW is adding to its growing list of integrated partnerships by partnering with Union Bindings to produce a new binding available at retail now. Partner Logos

Coming out of Union’s Custom House, the new POW Data binding features a baseplate and hiback made of 15% regrind plastic material, originating from Union bindings. The heel cup is 100% recycled aluminium and the EVA pads are made of 100% recycled EVA. Total global production is 290 pairs. Check out Union Bindings’ website

Union will be contributing one-percent of the revenue from this product to POW. So, if you’re in the market for a binding the season, check it out. Not only is it a great product, but you’ll be directly helping us fight climate change in the process.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE NEXT FEW MONTHS
As already mentioned, the decisions made by our world leaders between now and December in regards to climate change will set the stage how the world is going to deal with climate change and its effects on generations behind us.

As Britain’s PM Gordon Brown said recently, “If we miss this opportunity, there will be no second chance sometime in the future, no later way to undo the catastrophic damage to the environment we will cause,”

Since the US and China are responsible for 40% of the world climate change emissions, every country is going to be looking at the US to see what level of commitment we have, especially after not signing the Kyoto Protocol in 1997.

China is already exhibiting leadership by being an emerging leader on clean energy and placing tangible goals on automotive emissions and green building. China sees the impact that their growing population can have on CO2 emissions and are seemingly ready to be part of the solution.

President Obama is making good on his campaign promise of addressing climate change domestically. At Tuesday’s UN meetings, he said that the US is “determined to act”. As a first step, the US House of Representatives has already signed the US Clean Energy and Security Act and it’s now on its way to the Senate, setting the United States’ first federal mandatory limits on greenhouse gases. Factories, power plants and other sources would be required to cut emissions by 17 percent from 2005 levels by 2020 and by 83 percent by mid-century. But with Congress moving slowly, the United States could soon find itself with little influence when 120 countries convene in Copenhagen.

If the US and China can show domestic commitment and leadership over the next few months, we may have something to build on. With that, countries such as Russia, India as well as the EU will be compelled to follow suit. But there are still many issues to sort out such as addressing the needs to emerging economies in regards to CO2 emissions. For example, do we provide aid to other countries through technology transfer of best practices for energy efficiency and clean energy? How can we compensate countries such as Brazil to stop deforestation? Does a global cap and trade policy make sense?

We could go on for hours. But the main point is that the cost of inaction is much, much greater than the cost of action and the US plays a great role in this. And for POW, we can’t forget that we’re a very large and influential community of people whose long-term lifestyle depends on the outcome of these meetings. We need to voice our concern both locally and at the highest levels. Don’t forget, its up to us to learn as much as we can, to influence others and speak up.

If you’re not a member of POW yet, please consider doing so. Our strength is in our numbers and there is no better time to have a collective voice than now. Together we can Protect Our Winters.

POW Logo 196x300 Protect Our Winters Newsletter, September 22ndJUST DO THIS ONE THING:
As we lead up to the Climate Conference in Copenhagen from December 6-18, we have a responsibility to let our elected officials know how strongly we feel that an aggressive policy must be agreed upon. For US citizens, please contact them via email here.

Also, read as much as you can. There are tons of articles being written now so just follow us on Twitter (@protectwinters), we’ll keep you updated.