This autumn, several key files will reach a critical moment. The EU will decide rules that shape how Europeans travel for the next decade. POW Europe has developed a position paper supporting the opportunity to cut transport emissions and rebalance Europe’s transport system towards rail.

Losing glaciers and rivers doesn’t just mean a loss of recreation activities. It means the loss of a whole water system that Europe relies on for competitiveness in a global market, energy, food security and trade. POW Europe CEO Natasha Kalauz reflects on the latest European Commission state of the union speech and what it means for the outdoor community.

After 24 months of advocacy efforts directed at UTMB, POW is pleased that the organisation is finally showing a decline, driven primarily by a reduced number of participants and attendees (≈280 fewer runners in 2025, a 2.5% decrease), as well as a decrease in the number of media representatives, guests, and partners (≈560 fewer people). These measures are in line with UTMB’s goal of a 20% reduction in the carbon footprint by 2030. However, it remains insufficient unless additional actions are implemented.

Brand Advocacy Day is a one-day gathering that turns awareness into action. POW Europe is hosting its second Brand Advocacy Day on 10 September. This time in Brussels, at the heart of where all EU policy decisions are made. The 2026 edition will pair a morning of advocacy briefing and strategy with an afternoon inside the European Parliament.

The coming months will be decisive when it comes to EU climate and environment policy. Decisions about how we travel and how and how we safeguard the glaciers, snowpack and water systems that a warming world is already putting at risk, are all on the table this autumn. While POW can make sure that EU policymakers know what the outdoor community wants, we make the message louder if industry raises their voice, too.

From infrastructure debates to athlete-led climate campaigns, the Winter Games in the Italian Alps highlighted the urgent need to align winter sports with a changing climate. Milano–Cortina 2026 showed both the power and the challenges of hosting the Winter Games in a warming world.

Today, POW Europe and its national chapters sent an open letter directly to the environment and climate ministers of several EU member states as well as to the cabinets and advisors of three key European commissioners: Wopke Hoekstra (Climate Action), Teresa Ribera (Green Deal & Competition) and Jessika Roswall (Environment).

Back in July, we published our first explainer on the EU’s 2040 climate target and why it matters to people and places that depend on […]

Amsterdam, September 24, 2025 — Protect Our Winters (POW) in Europe hosted its first-ever Brand Advocacy Day, bringing together more than 60 outdoor and winter […]

What’s the big picture? When you’re hiking in the mountains, you might be tempted to take a shortcut to get to the summit quicker. Quickly, […]

Time is not on our side. Every day that passes without climate action marks another tick of the climate clock - a clock that doesn't […]

Winter sports are already being significantly affected by the climate crisis. Rising temperatures and shrinking snowfall threaten the very existence of the sports we love. […]