Easy Green: U.S. Ski & Snowboard Launches New Sustainability Initiative, Sets Carbon Impact Goals
U.S. Ski & Snowboard officially announced Easy Green, a new climate change-focused initiative focused on amplifying the conversation around climate and driving widespread commitment to sustainable practices across skiing and snowboarding.
Named after an “easy green” trail at a resort, the initiative embodies the idea that making sustainable choices when skiing and snowboarding can be easy. Easy Green marks a step forward in U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s dedication to becoming stewards of sustainability in winter sports, knowing millions globally are inspired by snow sports and enjoy healthy, active lifestyles in diverse global settings. As climate change poses a growing threat to these sports, Easy Green drives a collective commitment to sustainable practices through five easy actions and recognizes the urgent need to secure the future of our winters.
“U.S. Ski & Snowboard is focused on using our platform for the greater good, especially when it comes to the climate,” said Sophie Goldschmidt, President and CEO of U.S. Ski & Snowboard. “The industry and our audience listen to our voice, and we will begin using it to engage the winter sports community to focus on sustainable practices. To help protect the future of our sports, to continue to be able to witness our athletes compete at the highest level of skiing and snowboarding for years to come and to continue rewriting history, we must act now, be more proactive and do more.”
Under the Easy Green initiative, U.S. Ski & Snowboard outlined three main goals: (1) reduce the organization’s own impact, (2) offset its carbon footprint through credits and (3) utilize its leadership position, working closely with athletes to increase awareness.
- To begin reducing its carbon impact, U.S. Ski & Snowboard created a sustainability task force with leaders in the climate change industry to guide actions. So far, actions have included actively using solar power at U.S. Ski & Snowboard’s headquarters in Park City, Utah, implementing a full hybrid fleet of Toyota vehicles, employing a carpool program and remote work for employees, and continuously promoting sustainable practices at all levels of business, including events and travel.
- U.S. Ski & Snowboard secured funding to offset 10% of the organization’s carbon footprint this season and has begun a fundraising campaign to offset 100% or more of its carbon footprint by 2030. To do so, the organization is working closely with various partners, including Greenly to continue to measure its carbon footprint and Anew Climate, one of the largest developers of forestry credits, to help offset its carbon impact in the forests of Wisconsin, the home of the nation’s largest cross country ski race, the American Birkebeiner.
- Knowing the impact athletes and sports have on and off the snow, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is also utilizing its platform to educate and drive action through unique awareness campaigns. As an example, the Stifel U.S. Alpine Ski Team wore climate change-themed race suits at the 2023 FIS Ski World Championships in collaboration with Kappa and Protect Our Winters, and hosted the World Cup for Climate at the Stifel America’s Downhill at Aspen. These significant efforts led Protect Our Winters to honor U.S. Ski & Snowboard with the prestigious Jake Burton Award, recognizing the organization’s vital role in promoting cultural change toward climate action. With programs like Easy Green, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to continuing and expanding impactful awareness initiatives.
“I’m really proud to see the steps U.S. Ski & Snowboard is taking to collectively use our voices and create positive change,” said Olympic champion and Protect Our Winters board member Jessie Diggins. “We have many hills to climb with regards to climate change, but we’re charging forward and I’m excited to see the focus on offsetting our carbon footprint as well as taking everyday actions to reduce our impact in the first place.”
The sustainability commitment and launch of Easy Green are supported individually and with the help of U.S. Ski & Snowboard partners, including: Protect Our Winters, an athlete-founded nonprofit that focuses on protecting the places and experiences they love from climate change; the National Ski Areas Association’s Sustainable Slopes, a program for ski areas to commit to sustainable practices across their operations; the Green Sports Alliance, the environmentally focused trade organization that convenes stakeholders from around the sporting world to promote sustainable communities; and the International Ski & Snowboard Federation’s (FIS) IMPACT Program, created to guide FIS and its key stakeholders through the current and future global sustainability challenges. U.S. Ski & Snowboard aims to propel the conversation and take concrete action toward a more sustainable future.
U.S. Ski & Snowboard remains committed to advancing sustainable practices and instigating a cultural shift towards a greener future. Easy Green is a step in the right direction with more to come. For more information, please visit usskiandsnowboard.org/easy-green.
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ABOUT U.S. SKI & SNOWBOARD
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is the Olympic and Paralympic National Governing Body (NGB) of ski and snowboard sports in the USA, based in Park City, Utah. Tracing its roots directly back to 1905, the organization represents nearly 200 elite skiers and snowboarders competing on 10 teams: alpine, cross country, freestyle moguls, freestyle aerials, snowboard, freeski, nordic combined, ski jumping, Para alpine and Para snowboard. In addition to the elite teams, U.S. Ski & Snowboard also provides leadership and direction for tens of thousands of young skiers and snowboarders across the USA, encouraging and supporting them in achieving excellence. By empowering national teams, clubs, coaches, parents, officials, volunteers and fans, U.S. Ski & Snowboard is committed to the progression of its sports, athlete success and the value of team. For more information, visit www.usskiandsnowboard.org.