--- title: "Outdoor Industry Partnership’s Goal: Fight Climate Change, Save Ski Season" id: "45595" type: "post" slug: "outdoor-industry-partnerships-goal-fight-climate-change-save-ski-season" published_at: "2019-02-05T21:04:26+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T23:36:44+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/02/05/outdoor-industry-partnerships-goal-fight-climate-change-save-ski-season/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2019/02/05/outdoor-industry-partnerships-goal-fight-climate-change-save-ski-season.md" excerpt: "A new partnership between major outdoor industry groups aims to amp up advocacy around climate change—an issue that has a direct effect on the length of the ski season." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Advocacy" - "AssociationsNow" - "climate" - "Leadership" - "outdoor industry" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "C-Level" - "Director" - "Executive Team" - "VP" taxonomy_persona: - "Industry Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Outdoor Industry Partnership’s Goal: Fight Climate Change, Save Ski Season The outdoor industry—including equipment manufacturers, facility owners, retailers, and companies—has reason to focus on climate change. And it was something on display during the Denver-based Outdoor Retailer Snow Show last month, where three groups that touch upon all of these sectors—the Outdoor Industry Association (OIA), Snowsports Industries America (SIA), and the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA)—announced the Outdoor Business Climate Partnership. The new partnership aims to increase advocacy on issues of climate change, which can have dramatic impacts on an industry that relies on a chilly climate to ensure that there’s plenty of snow on the slopes. “Without a doubt, climate change is something that needs attention from all of us,” SIA President Nick Sargent said at the event, [according to The Colorado Sun (opens in a new tab)](https://coloradosun.com/2019/01/30/outdoor-industry-unites-against-climate-change/) . “It is truly the most pressing environmental issue of our time.” The industry, which frequently touts its economic power—[OIA states on its website (opens in a new tab)](https://outdoorindustry.org/advocacy/) that the U.S. outdoor recreation generates $887 billion in consumer spending and 7.6 million jobs—is in a position to make its voice known on what has proven a difficult political issue. The partnership [plans to tackle the issue in two ways (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nsaa.org/environment/outdoor-business-climate-partnership/) : By advocating for bipartisan climate change reform, and by encouraging industry practices that both raise the voices around climate change advocacy and ensure that members are taking steps in support of responsible practices, such as reducing carbon emissions as a part of their own businesses. “An ‘all hands on deck’ approach is essential in meeting a challenge as significant as climate change, and together we‘ll have a stronger voice to drive change inside and outside of the outdoor recreation industry,” said NSAA President and CEO Kelly Pawlak [in a press release (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nsaa.org/media/350966/OBCP_Press_Release_2019.pdf) [PDF]. The new move represents a shift in thinking around pro-snow advocacy. [The New York Times notes that (opens in a new tab)](https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/02/opinion/sunday/winter-snow-ski-climate.html) , prior to the new partnership, advocacy specifically targeted at protecting the ski season has been limited to a few groups, such as [Protect Our Winters (opens in a new tab)](https://protectourwinters.org/) , a nonprofit started by professional snowboarder Jeremy Jones. While the industry is increasing its advocacy, it emphasizes that its goal is to remain bipartisan on an issue that hasn’t always been quite so bipartisan in nature. “We take a highroad, proactive approach and not a divisive approach when we work with members of Congress, and we’re going to continue to do that,” NSAA Director of Public Policy Geraldine Link told the *Times*. “We don’t use ‘doom and gloom’ or ‘sky is falling’ messaging.” (georgeclerk/E+/Getty Images Plus) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Advocacy](https://associationsnow.com/tag/advocacy/) [#climate](https://associationsnow.com/tag/climate/) [#Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/tag/leadership/) [#outdoor industry](https://associationsnow.com/tag/outdoor-industry/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Powering Advocacy-Why PACs Matter for AssociationsNovember 20, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/11/20/associations-now-presents-powering-advocacy-why-pacs-matter-for-associations/) - [VideoASAE Legislative 2025 Fly-InApril 4, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/04/04/asae-legislative-2025-fly-in/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2019%2F02%2F05%2Foutdoor-industry-partnerships-goal-fight-climate-change-save-ski-season%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !