The Fight for Public Lands 🏕️, with Patagonia + Protect Our Winters

This episode is a double feature, recorded live during NYC Climate Week in a Patagonia store. It’s about fighting to protect our public lands, leveraging outdoor athletes as effective advocates, and (once again) getting environmentalists to vote. Plus, the scoop on Patagonia’s get-out-the-vote project that will give you a $100 incentive for encouraging friends to vote. Today’s episode features:

Erin Sprague, CEO of the non-profit Protect our Winters (POW). POW’s mission: “turn passionate outdoor people into climate advocates, working together to protect a future with clean air, clean water and a healthy planet.”

Corley Kenna, the chief impact and communications officer at Patagonia, is responsible for advancing the company’s policy and advocacy priorities. (Disclosure: I proudly serve on Patagonia’s board of directors.)

Patagonia and Protect Our Winters have been collaborating for years to protect public lands and rally the outdoor industry — which in 2024 generated $1.3 trillion in economic value and supported 5.2 million jobs. It’s always a thrill to see pro-Earth groups flex their electoral power.

_____

Mentioned in this episode

* The Trump administration announced plans to dramatically shrink the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monuments (Chaser: Patagonia: We’re Suing to Protect Public Lands)

* Fossil fuel companies spent over $400 million on the last election.

* According to the Outdoor Industry Association, nearly 70% of outdoor participants were White, while only 10.3% were Black and 13.4% Hispanic. The majority of participants are women, at 53.4% — the highest ever.

* The outdoor industry—in 2024 generated $1.3 trillion in economic value for the outdoor industry and 5.2 million jobs.

* Brands for Public Lands

* 85% of Montanans polled said they would support a ban on the sale or transfer of public land.