This week, the Outdoor Business Climate Partnership (OBCP) joined more than 76 companies on Capitol Hill to advocate for immediate and bipartisan climate action, specifically, putting a price on carbon. OBCP members are Snowsports Industries America (SIA), National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) and Outdoor Industry Association (OIA).
This newly formed alliance among the three major outdoor industry trade groups represents a large segment of the outdoor business sector, which helps to support the $887 billion outdoor recreation economy and 7.6 million jobs. This influential coalition is committed to leveraging the economic weight of the outdoor business sector to take action on climate, including putting a price on carbon.
Aside from dozens of meetings with lawmakers on both side of the aisle, two CEO-only roundtable events were held, with Rossignol CEO Francois Goulet (pictured above, left, with SIA President Nick Sargent) speaking directly with both Democrats and Republican lawmakers about climate change and its impacts on their business. “This week, I had the unique privilege to meet with lawmakers in private conversations, to discuss solutions to climate change and it was clear that they value the input from the business community. As one of the larger brands in the snow sports industry, we have a responsibility to show up, to elevate our voices and achieve the solutions we need,” said Mr. Goulet.
“In each meeting, we heard that the business voice is a critical part of making the progress we need on climate,” Sargent said. “SIA is committed to engaging the entire snow sports business community to elevate their influence and dial up their voices on this important and urgent issue.”
“A meaningful price on carbon is critical to tackling climate change and protecting a thriving snow sports industry here in the U.S. NSAA wholeheartedly supports bipartisan and market-based measures that will incentivize the changes needed to swiftly and significantly reduce carbon emissions,” says Kelly Pawlak, NSAA President. “What I heard repeatedly during the fly-in is that Congress is not hearing enough from the business sector. Everyone I met was appreciative to finally hear our voice, and I left Capitol Hill determined to continue sharing the voice of the outdoor business community.”
“Our members, whether river rafting companies or outdoor equipment retailers, are feeling the direct impacts of climate change – from widely unpredictable runoff to lessening demands for winter gear,” said Amy Roberts, Outdoor Industry Association Executive Director. “This is why we are here in D.C., to communicate the economic impacts of climate change and discuss common-sense, innovative business friendly solutions. Our bottom line is at stake if we don’t do something now and it starts with a unified business case to elected officials of every stripe.”
The event, organized by Ceres, represents the largest business gathering on Capitol Hill to advocate for climate legislation in over a decade, incorporating businesses representing over 1.2 million U.S. jobs, and with a combined 2018 revenue of over $2.5 trillion.
Photo courtesy OBCP
