‘WE HAVE THE POWER’
Sandy Trust, Ski Club Member and chair of Protect Our Winters UK, talks eco-guilt, responsible pensions and carbon literacy with Gabriella Le Breton
Protect Our Winters (POW) was founded in 2007 by the American snowboarder Jeremy Jones and has grown into a global community of athletes, scientists and business leaders united by their passion to protect nature. Supported by over 130,000 like-minded supporters, and brands like Patagonia, Rossignol and Arc’teryx, POW lobbies governments and companies to implement systemic change to policies and business models, working towards the ultimate aim of creating a carbon neutral, or net zero, society.
The UK branch of POW launched in 2017, chaired by Ski Club Member Sandy Trust. “After multiple ski seasons in Chamonix and Méribel I was struck by the thought of the legacy I was leaving to my children and inspired to work to enable them to enjoy winters in the same way I have,” he says.
Combining his work for POW UK with a full-time job in risk management, Trust is as passionate as he is analytical about climate change. But don’t get him started on eco-guilt… “The narrative about personal lifestyle choices directly impacting climate change has been dictated by fossil fuel companies attempting to deflect attention.
“Of course we should all make positive choices, but we need to prioritise systemic change over individual change,” he explains. “So please, get over your eco-guilt and realise that this is progress over perfection. Your ability to influence change is far greater than your individual footprint.
PROTECT OUR WINTERS FACTFILE
Protect our Winters UK is a registered charity that seeks to inspire and equip UK-based outdoor communities to take positive action to address the climate crisis and accelerate the transition to a carbon neutral society.
SANDY TRUST’S TOP FIVE STEPS FOR ACHIEVING CHANGE
Let go of your eco-guilt – we’re all carbon sinners, so let’s start taking positive action
Become a Protect Our Winters UK supporter (protectourwinters.uk)
Make the positive choices you can in your own life around food, transport and energy
Look at your finances – are your investments fuelling climate change?
Get active for climate change this summer with POW UK’s Save The 2000 challenge (see below)
#SAVETHE2000
Snow at 2000m will decrease by 70% in many locations by the end of the century. We owe it to our planet, ourselves and future generations to reverse this. So, this July, pick any 2000 challenge – hike 2000km, cycle 2000 miles, climb 2000ft, it’s your choice – and complete it in as many July days as you wish, on your own or as part of a team. For more information and to register visit