New Carbon Pollution Limits Great News for Mountains and Winter Sports!

Contact: Phil Huffeldt, 303-801-0578,Phil@snowridersinternational.org

Denver, CO – Snowriders International praised President Obama’s action on power plant rules today together with leaders from snowsports and mountain communities. Supporters applauded that there will be 32 percent less climate change pollution and more clean energy power nationwide, according to limits on carbon pollution finalized today that are central to President Obama’s plan to address climate change.  

“This is the biggest step the U.S. has ever taken to curb global warming pollution, and it’s big news for snowsports and mountain communities affected by climate change,” said Philip Huffeldt, Director of Snowriders International.

Winter sports athletes heralded the benefits the new pollution limits will bring to the country as unreliable snowpack and shorter winters hurt athletes’ ability to compete.

“As a five-time Olympian and gold medalist at the X Games for ski cross, I’ve seen the reliable snow of my youth change into man-made snow flanked by dirt and rocks on all sides,” said Casey Puckett. “Reduced snowpack caused by climate change really limits what we can do as athletes and that’s why I support the Clean Power Plan.”

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan sets state-by-state limits on heat-trapping emissions of carbon dioxide from power plants, the largest single source of such pollution in the country.

Mountain communities support the plan. This past November, over 130 ski areas, professional athletes, businesses, government officials, and organizations voiced support with Snowriders International for a strong plan. The final plan goes even further than the initial draft and many are happy about that.

“Ski areas depend upon having reliable snowpack every year and climate change is making that harder and harder,” said Mike Nathan, Sustainability Supervisor or Arapahoe Basin Ski Area. “The Clean Power Plan is a step in the right direction and the stronger it is, the better.”

Heat waves, forest fires, shorter winters and decreasing snowpack are just a few of the impacts of climate change that mountain communities have already begun to experience. California and much of the Pacific Northwest experienced the worst snowfall on record this past winter. Scientists predict that without drastic cuts in global warming emissions, these effects will become catastrophic.

Vast majorities of US residents across of all walks of life and political leanings support the carbon pollution limits, according to a recent poll according a recent Yale study. Skiers, snowboarders and other snow loving people participated in sending in more than 8 million comments in favor of the plan.

The Clean Power Plan comes out at an important time globally as world leaders prepare to come together and form an international agreement on climate change. The United Nations Climate Change Conference is in December in Paris this year and this plan allows the U.S. to lead and set a strong example worldwide.

“Today’s action is thanks to all the mountain and snowsports voices, together with millions of Americans, who called for strong climate action,” said Philip Huffeldt. “With continued leadership from the President and backing of the American people, the U.S. can help steer an international agreement to stave off the worst of the climate crisis.”

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Snowriders International is an organization of skiers, boarders, and mountain recreation enthusiasts.  We are dedicated to the promotion of winter sports and protection of the environment across the globe through service, education, research, and advocacy www.snowridersinternational.org

Mountain Communities and Enthusiasts Nationwide call for Bold Climate Action

For Immediate Release: November 20, 2014

Contact: Phil Huffeldt, office 303-801-0578, 

Phil@snowridersinternational.org

As ski season opens, mountain communities and enthusiasts nationwide call for bold climate action.

Professional skier, Julian Carr, addressing supporters.

Philip Huffeldt, Coordinator of Snowriders International, presenting the letters to Carl Daly, EPA Region 8 Air Program Director.

Denver, CO – Today – As the ski season opens, over 115 snow and mountain supporters across the country including ski areas, local businesses, professional winter sports athletes, local governments, and organizations have signed letters in support of bold action by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to curb power plant emissions.  Those letters, in support of the EPA’s Clean Power Plan, were delivered to the EPA at a media event featuring some of the letter signers. Supporters made the announcement crowded on the sidewalk in front of the Regional EPA building in Denver framed by fully geared up skiers and snowboarders waiving signs of support over a pile of melting snow.  

The letters are part of Snowriders International’s campaign, Powder, Not Power Plants, calling for carbon pollution cuts on power plants.  Some notable signees of the letters include Arapahoe Basin Ski Area and all of Powdr Resorts’ ski areas such as Killington and Mt. Bachelor, Icelantic Skis and Confluence Kayak and Ski, Olympic gold medalist Ted Ligety and professional skier Julian Carr, the town of Telluride and Mayor Barbara Cottam of Angel Fire in New Mexico, and Snowriders International and the Climate Reality Project, to name a few.

“The International Panel on Climate Change released its latest report recently, and the science is clear.  Carbon pollution is the biggest threat to winter sports and mountain communities, and the EPA’s Clean Power Plan is one of the most important steps the United States can take to tackle global warming.” said Philip Huffeldt, Coordinator of Snowriders International.

“It's an honor to work with Snowriders International, Climate Reality, and Protect Our Winters to protect snow sports on this planet from climate change,” explained Julian Carr, professional skier and I AM PRO SNOW and Protect Our Winters Ambassador.  “Aside from winter sports being enjoyable, it also employs 600,000 people.  Tip of the cap to everyone here today wanting to watch out for Mother Earth, our sport, and our jobs.”

“I have to wonder how long we can keep making artificial snow to begin skiing at unpredictable times every fall,” said Sha Miklas, Environmental Manager of Arapahoe Basin Ski Area.  “We are already seeing the effects of climate change with many ski areas delaying their opening days due to unseasonably warm weather this year.”

Carbon pollution fuels climate change leading to erratic winters, decreasing snowpack, worse air quality, and higher the risk of more frequent, more destructive, more costly, and more deadly extreme weather events. America’s power plants are the single largest source of global warming pollution in the country.

That’s why Snowriders International and their allies launched a campaign “Powder, Not Power Plants!” to call for a cut to greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and protect a hurting mountain economy.  Unpredictable winters and decreasing winter snowpack have already cost the US winter sports world more than $1.07 billion since 1999 according to a report by the National Resource Defense Council and Protect Our Winters.

“As a local ski shop owner, I see fewer customers, less revenue, and less fun when people ski less,” said Jonathan Kahn, owner of Confluence Kayak and Ski.  “But it’s not just about my business, I would like to see my kids and their kids skiing the same way I have done, so let’s act on climate now.”

“Angel Fire Resort is in my back yard,” said Barbara Cottam, Mayor of Angel Fire, New Mexico.  “Shorter winters and drought conditions result in less snow pack which impacts not only our economy, but also river stream flows, the health of aquatic life, and agriculture.”

Implementing the Clean Power Plan will ensure that new federal safeguards will set commonsense limits on carbon pollution, inspire investment in infrastructure to protect communities from the climate change impacts they are already experiencing, and spur the kind of innovation that will power America with clean energy in the 21st century.

The message of this broad coalition is clear: We need to act now to limit carbon pollution from power plants to protect our snow and the mountain way of life — before it’s too late.

To learn more and take action, visit Snowriders International’s website www.snowridersinternational.org. 

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Snowriders International is an organization of skiers, boarders, and mountain recreation enthusiasts.  We are dedicated to the promotion of winter sports and protection of the environment across the globe through service, education, research, and advocacy. 

www.snowridersinternational.org

US-China Climate Agreement Statement

For Immediate Release: November  12, 2014
Contact: Phil Huffeldt, office 303-801-0578, Phil@snowridersinternational.org

“This historic joint climate agreement by China and the US, the world’s two largest polluters, is good news for the future of mountains and snow. With climate change leading to increasingly erratic winters, decreasing snowpack, and shorter ski seasons, mountain communities need climate action now.” – Phil Huffeldt, Snowriders International.

Denver, CO–  Last night, the U.S. and China announced a groundbreaking agreement to cut greenhouse gas pollution, raising the chances of a possible accord at the international climate summit scheduled for December 2015 in Paris. In response, Philip Huffeldt, the Coordinator of Snowriders International, said the following:

“This historic joint climate agreement by China and the US, the world’s two largest polluters, is good news for the future of mountains and snow. With climate change leading to increasingly erratic winters, decreasing snowpack, and shorter ski seasons, mountain communities need climate action now.

“As many ski areas open late this year due to unseasonably warm weather, this announcement provides a significant base layer for progress. Unpredictable winters and decreasing winter snowpack have already cost the winter sports world more than $1.07 billion since 1999.

“Snowriders International’s campaign Powder, Power Plants has been calling for a cut to greenhouse gas emissions from power plants to help protect hurting mountain communities and snowpack.  We urge world leaders to reach for the peak of what is possible and build on Tuesday night’s agreement.”

To learn more and take action, visit Snowriders International’s website.

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Snowriders International is a grassroots group working primarily with skiers, snowboarders, and other mountain recreation enthusiasts to promote winter sports and protect the environment. www.snowridersinternational.org

Skating On Thin Ice - 8 ways global warming is affecting winter sports.

Released by: International and Environment America

Release date: February 20, 2014
>Download Report

Contact:

Phil Huffeldt, Snowriders International Coordinator, (303) 801-0578, phil@snowridersinternational.org
 Anneli Berube, Environment Colorado Regional Field Organizer, (303)573-3871 x317,anneli@environmentamerica.org 

Global Warming has Colorado Winter Sports and Winter Olympics Skating on Thin Ice

 Denver, CO – With the world’s attention on the Sochi Olympic Games, Environment Colorado revealed a summary of global warming impacts on Winter Olympic sports and highlighting the need to act urgently to reduce the carbon pollution fueling global warming.

 “When it comes to the future of winter sports, global warming has us skating on thin ice,” said Anneli Berube, Field Organizer, with Environment Colorado. Philip Huffeldt of Snowriders International agrees, “there’s still time to keep from sliding off the edge by going after the biggest sources of the carbon pollution fueling global warming.” 

Environment Colorado and Snowriders International point to increased rate of snow melt, shorter winters, drought, and a shrinking map of reliable winter host sites, as climate impacts are threatening the Winter Olympic Games. They also warned that unchecked global warming could accelerate these changes. At the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, organizers trucked in and manufactured tons of extra snow. The unusually warm conditions that trigger these extreme measures could become the new normal.

 Power plants that burn fossil fuels like coal and gas are the largest sources of carbon pollution in the U.S. But while there are limits on smog, soot, and other dangerous pollution from power plants, there are no federal limits on the industrial carbon pollution power plants emit.

 The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting public comments on its proposal to start limiting carbon pollution from new power plants, and plans to propose limits on carbon from existing power plants in June. Americans have already submitted 4 million comments to the EPA supporting limits on carbon pollution from power plants.

 “A shorter snow season means less time to practice on the slopes – and less fun,” said Confluence Kayak and Ski owner Jonathan Kahn, who joined Environment Colorado and Snowriders International at a news conference. “And that’s true for regular folks like me just as much as our Olympic skiers.”

 The Winter Olympic Games aren’t the only victims of climate change – scientists are seeing global warming’s fingerprints on the devastating wildfires and extreme flooding that are already exacting a huge toll on Coloradans’ public safety.

 “We can expect to see later accumulating snow, early snowmelt, and less snow overall, punctuated by the occasional large snowfall,” said Dr. Mark Williams, CU Boulder ‘Professor of Snow’. “It’s not all gloom and doom, but we have lots to do to reduce carbon pollution and lessen our impact on global warming.”

 “President Obama has committed to protecting our children and grandchildren from the worst impacts of global warming, but the EPA’s proposal to limit carbon pollution from power plants is not yet in place,” said Berube. “The fossil fuel industry and their allies in Congress are already lining up to block the president’s plan. Colorado’s leaders must show their support for climate action.” 

“Artificial snow and skiing on grass won’t save our communities or our way of life, but saving winter by fighting global warming will,” concluded Huffeldt.

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Environment Colorado is a statewide, citizen-based environmental advocacy organization working to protect our air, water and open spaces. www.environmentcolorado.org

Snowriders International is an organization of skiers, boarders, and mountain recreation enthusiasts dedicated to promoting winter sports and protecting the environment. www.snowridersinternational.org