Athletes 'Play It Cool' to Stop Global Warming

Play It Cool teams high profile athletes who are concerned about global warming with the David Suzuki Foundation. These athletes are committed to making changes in their personal lives to reduce their climate impact, and to inspiring others to do the same. The campaign was kicked off in Calgary in December 2006 by Canadian alpine skiing star, Thomas Grandi, and his wife, Olympic silver medalist Sara Renner, along with Dr. David Suzuki.

Winter sports such as skiing are extremely vulnerable to the effects of global warming. A recent United Nations report warned that downhill skiing could disappear completely at some resorts as early as 2030. Similarly, studies show that some mountain ranges in Europe and the Western United States have experienced decreases of 50 to 75 per cent in snowfall amounts in recent decades. Summer sports will also be affected by global warming as warmer temperatures mean more smog and poor air quality.

Athletes like Grandi and Renner have witnessed these impacts first-hand, and they’re worried. Too little snow throughout the Alps last winter forced the cancellation of several World Cup ski races.

Says Grandi, "The sports we love are threatened by global warming. And what's happening in the mountains is just an early warning of more climate impacts to come if we fail to take action. If we continue business as usual, scientists say we're going to live in a world quite different from the one we are used to."

"I worry because winter sports might be the first to go," says Olympic cross-country medal-winner Renner. "Winter sports are a big part of our country and our culture. Together with the David Suzuki Foundation we are challenging other winter athletes and all Canadians to take responsibility for their climate impact by going carbon neutral."

Participating athletes in the Play It Cool campaign are committing to taking responsibility for their personal climate impact by going 'carbon neutral'. This involves reducing their emissions as much as possible, and then purchasing high quality carbon offsets from sustainable energy projects for whatever emissions remain.

"I hope Sara and Thomas's example will encourage other athletes and Canadians to take action on climate change by reducing and offsetting their emissions," says Dr. Suzuki. "The dramatic changes that Sara and Thomas have observed in the mountains are just one example of the negative impacts we can expect from global warming."

"This problem requires our urgent attention. My family and I personally offset all of our air travel, and my Foundation has a comprehensive carbon neutral program as well. By going carbon neutral, people and businesses can demonstrate to our government that they are ready to address climate change, and that they expect the same kind of commitment and decisive action from their political leaders."

For additional resources & info on going carbon neutral, please see "More Information" section below.

"I believe athletes are role models, and I think it's time we used our voice to help the environment that we depend on for life."
                    - Thomas Grandi
          

                                                   More Information

What You Can Do

Go Carbon Neutral

Other things you can do at Home and at Work to address climate change

To Ski or Not to Ski - Grist Magazine

Take Action for a Climate Change Plan that works for Canada


Related David Suzuki Foundation programs

Melting Mountains Awareness Program

Nature Challenge


Media

"Play It Cool" Press Release

List of Athletes Participating in 'Play It Cool'

Olympic Couple Joins Fight Against Climate Change - CBC

Melting of glaciers 'speeds up' - BBC News

Ski Bummer - Grist Magazine

Wrapping Up the Glacier to Keep it Cold - Times Online

Global Warming Could Spell the End of Winter Sports Industry - Grist Magazine

Behind the Vail: How the Legendary Resort Town is Going Green - Grist Magazine

Going, Going Green: As Global Warming Changes the Planet, it is Changing the Sports World  - Sports Illustrated


Related Campaigns & Reports

Clean Air Champions

UN report - Many Ski Resorts Heading Downhill as a Result of Global Warming

Climate Change in the European Alps: Adapting Winter Tourism and Natural Hazard Management

Keep Winter Cool 

SkiGreen.org                   

Save Our Snow

Ski Area Citizens