April 29, 2025 Winter sports brands unite under UN Race to Zero

The Winter Sports Sustainability Network announces that major brands in its Climate Pact have joined the UN Race to Zero. This move consolidates the winter sports sector’s approach to climate accountability, aiming to reduce emissions and influence policy across the industry.

The Winter Sports Sustainability Network (WSN), managed by Peak 63 and the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry (FESI), has confirmed that signatories of the Winter Sports Industry Climate Pact have joined the United Nations’ Race to Zero campaign. This step underscores the sector’s intention to align with verified international climate targets in the transition toward reduced carbon emissions.

Launched in 2024, the Climate Pact aims to support winter sports businesses in achieving net-zero carbon emissions. The recent alignment with the UN Race to Zero validates this commitment, providing a formal structure for the reduction of emissions across the sector. Companies such as Atomic, Burton, Decathlon, Elan, Salomon and many others have taken this next step by officially joining the campaign.

Industry aims to influence peers, suppliers and policy

The Climate Pact is anchored in five guiding principles: prioritizing greenhouse gas reduction aligned with the 1.5°C target of the Paris Agreement, encouraging collective progress, using influence to shape policy, and embedding climate accountability at the leadership level. Thus far, the industry can be seen to be rallying behind the initiative:

“The winter sports industry cannot afford to stand by as climate change threatens its future, shares Jérôme Pero, Secretary General of FESI.

“By joining the UN Race to Zero, our industry is not just committing to climate targets—it is leading by example, proving that sustainable business and climate action go hand in hand.”

Protect Our Winters’ project manager Gillian Rosh added: “We’re proud to see this principle embraced by the Climate Pact, with members influencing suppliers and governments to drive the broader action needed to avert the worst impacts of climate change.”

Michael Knye, Global Sustainability Manager at Elevate Outdoor Collective, described their SBTi commitment as “a cornerstone of our decarbonization strategy. It’s a big challenge—but one we fully embrace, because it drives us to be proactive, accountable, and innovative.”

Similarly, Leon Korošec of Elan emphasized that “joining the Race to Zero is not just a commitment – it’s a direction that guides how we innovate, develop and produce. As a brand born in the Alps, and focused on winter sports, we understand what’s at stake.”

Photo: Unsplash