Issue No. 8: The ODR might be DOA ☠️

Written By PHC Commissioner

Hey Outsiders! Thanks for subscribing to Outsider Insider and opening up Issue No. 8. The Outdoor Rink might be Dead on Arrival. Our backyard rink looks more like a backyard swimming pool and we are left watching the NHL Stadium Series to get our fix of outdoor hockey.

In this week’s edition:

  • Outdoor hockey and its current situation

  • REI new store & new pledge

  • Electric sleds and boats

  • And more!

— Scott Crowder

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Skating is on THIN ICE! 🧊

Each winter, there is lots of talk about the role of climate change and warming winters on snow and alpine sports, this year you can add another causality to the conversation - outdoor skating.

The Washington Post reports the Great Lakes to have roughly 6% of its waters covered with frozen 💦 where historically that number this time of year is 41%. The lack of ice coverage has the ability to affect weather and has an ecological impact that is not yet fully known. What is known, is the lack of activities that rely on ice. Ice fishing for one, but also skating. In Ottawa, the longest natural skating path - Rideau Canal Skateway - has not opened and may not this year. In Vermont, a four-mile skating trail on Lake Morey had a late opening in early February and the owner believes the season will be cut in half this winter.

The individuals who enjoy these activities suffer but so do the economy and the way of life for the communities who have learned to embrace and support these cold winter pastimes. A group in the Adirondacks is working to connect research and data with climate change and its impact directly on people’s lives. Their stance - if people realize they are going to lose something that is special to them - for example, skating outside - they might be more likely to adopt a more sustainable way of living.

Do people care about outdoor skating? Look no further than the Pond Hockey Classic in NH. One of the largest outdoor pond hockey festivals in North America. This year’s tourney saw 275 teams and over 2200 participants take to the ice in record-setting temperatures and windchills. Watch this video but make sure your hot coffee is close. For the ultimate outdoor-hockey inspiration check out ODR Heaven on Instagram.

Maybe its time for Protect Our Winters to add outdoor skaters to its list of climate advocates!

Business, Industry & Economy:

Health, Wellness, & Fitness:

Sustainability, Conservation & Environment:

  • 🧪 Forever chemicals no more - REI announces plan to remove “forever chemicals” from its products by 2026, industry hopes others follow suit

  • A report by Evergreen Action Committee in partnership with the National Resource Defence Council lays out how the current US Administration can hit its goal to cut carbon emissions and reach 100% clean power by 2035.

  • If a full glass of ice water melts what happens - well the glass will overflow. New research shows “Doomsday Glacier” in Antarctica is not only melting but is teetering on the edge of breaking apart - the only outcome of this is a drastic rise in sea levels.

  • 📦 Amazon isn’t usually what comes to mind in the sustainability realm however the company announced this week a record in renewable energy purchases to reduce their carbon emissions. They also are supporting seaweed farming between wind turbines in the North Sea, which is a proven method for curbing carbon.

  • 🍷 Winemakers team up to plant over 1M trees 🌲 to help with flood control and sustainability in Napa Valley

  • The war in Ukraine has global impacts and conservation research has not escaped its reach according to research from a study published in Frontiers in Conservation Science.

  • 👨‍🌾 Over 6 million acres - or 74% of the planted cotton crop were abandoned by Texas farmers in 2022 due to heat and parched soil. The lack of crop harvested has increased the price of common items such as cotton balls, cloth diapers, and tampons.

  • Circular Economy is still a ways off…okay a long way off - over 90% of what is produced and consumed does not reenter the production cycles further contributing to pollution and the climate crisis. A recent report from Circularity Gap Report says only 8.6% of the world's economy is circular 🤯

  • 🌱 A team of scientists from the UK and Ireland has released a study that shows that people who watch nature documentaries, specifically plant documentaries become more interested in plants and have a greater awareness of the risks plants face.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion:

Travel, Tourism, & Hospitality:

Gear:

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PHC Commissioner
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Issue No. 9: DICK’S Sporting Goods - (RE)-embracing the outdoors ⛰
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Issue No. 7: New Rules of Business