To those of us who depend on consistent winters, climate change is serious business.

The snow sports industry generates $66 billion in revenue and supports 965,000 jobs in the US alone. (OIA, 2012)

This is especially critical in our snow-dependent tourist communities that support 212,000 jobs and $7 billion in salaries nationwide. (POW, 2013)

Snow is our currency and without it, our sport, our jobs and our economic livelihoods are a thing of the past.

Please join us in letting our Senators and Representatives know that the winter sports community can’t wait any longer for action on climate change legislation.

Sign our letter as a sign of unity from all of us who love and depend on consistent winters.

Shred Washington. Read and Sign the Letter Below.

Dear Senator/Representative,

As athletes and recreationalists, we’re witnessing climate change first-hand. We can clearly see that winter is on borrowed time, and with it, the jobs and economies of mountain towns. The good news is that because we now know this warming is human caused, we can do something about it. And that something—energy efficiency, clean energy, carbon fees, power plant regulations—almost always has economic benefits. That’s why we’re writing:

As representatives of over 23 million U.S. snow sports enthusiasts, resorts, and a $66 billion industry, we’re asking you to fight for climate legislation and to make your effort a public issue so that we send a message to business, to markets, and to China and India.

Most significantly, you can support standards that cut carbon pollution from America’s aging power plant fleet at least 25 percent by 2020 while boosting energy efficiency and shifting to clean energy sources. Power plants are our largest source of carbon pollution. Cleaning them up will create tens of thousands of clean energy jobs, meet the pollution targets set for the country, and restore U.S. international leadership. But this isn’t the only route you might take, and we’re open to a range of bipartisan solutions, including revenue neutral fee and dividend, for example.

The bottom line is that climate change is the greatest challenge of our time and your response will leave an historic legacy.

This is serious business to us:
• A nationwide low-snowfall year results in an estimated 15.2 million fewer skier visits, $1.07 billion in lost potential revenue at ski resorts, up to 27,000 fewer jobs.

• In our winter tourist-dependent states, winter tourism generates $12.2 billion in revenue, supports 212,000 jobs and $7 billion in salaries at restaurants, gas stations, hotels, small businesses, etc.

• This local economic activity results in $1.4 billion in state and local taxes and $1.7 billion in federal taxes annually.

Climate change threatens our jobs, the health and well-being of our families, our communities, and billions in federal and state income. We know it is happening; we know it is human caused. And we need your help to fix it.

Thank you for your time.

Sign Here.