The Mountaineers
As the Pacific Northwest faces an early and intense wildfire season, an unprecedented heat wave, and severe drought, we’ve been thinking a lot about how The Mountaineers can help advance climate solutions. The climate crisis is an urgent threat to our communities and the Pacific Northwest landscapes we love. Our community experiences the effects of climate change on our outdoor adventures, as wildfires cancel hikes and glacier travel becomes more perilous. It also impacts our health and communities, especially our most vulnerable.
The Mountaineers has committed to doing our part to address climate change by reducing our organizational carbon footprint, educating the outdoor community, and advocating for public lands protections. But the climate crisis is a global problem, and our government must take bold action to combat climate change and promote climate justice.
Fortunately, Congress has a historic opportunity to prioritize meaningful climate action in the upcoming infrastructure and budget reconciliation bills. This legislation could cut carbon pollution, advance equitable climate solutions, and make our public lands more resilient to climate change. But negotiations are still ongoing, and it remains to be seen whether this legislation will address the climate crisis with the urgency it deserves.
The outdoor recreation community has a powerful voice with legislators, as we can tell personal stories of how climate change is affecting our outdoor adventures and the places we love to explore. Speak up and tell your members of Congress to take bold action to prioritize climate solutions. We must act now to ensure that future generations can enjoy the great outdoors.
