[Senate Hearing 110-1091]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 110-1091
THE ISSUE OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF GLOBAL WARMING ON RECREATION AND THE
RECREATION INDUSTRY
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HEARING
before the
COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
MAY 24, 2007
__________
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congress.senate
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COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC WORKS
ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
BARBARA BOXER, California, Chairman
MAX BAUCUS, Montana JAMES M. INHOFE, Oklahoma
JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, Connecticut JOHN W. WARNER, Virginia
THOMAS R. CARPER, Delaware GEORGE V. VOINOVICH, Ohio
HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, New York JOHNNY ISAKSON, Georgia
FRANK R. LAUTENBERG, New Jersey DAVID VITTER, Louisiana
BENJAMIN L. CARDIN, Maryland LARRY E. CRAIG, Idaho
BERNARD SANDERS, Vermont LAMAR ALEXANDER, Tennessee
AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming
SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, Rhode Island CHRISTOPHER S. BOND, Missouri
Bettina Poirier, Majority Staff Director and Chief Counsel
Andrew Wheeler, Minority Staff Director
C O N T E N T S
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Page
MAY 24, 2007
OPENING STATEMENTS
Boxer, Hon. Barbara, U.S. Senator from the State of California... 1
Klobuchar, Hon. Amy, U.S. Senator from the State of Minnesota.... 3
Sanders, Hon. Bernard, U.S. Senator from the State of Vermont.... 5
Lautenberg, Hon. Frank R., U.S. Senator from the State of New
Jersey......................................................... 5
Whitehouse, Hon. Sheldon, U.S. Senator from the State of Rhode
Island......................................................... 7
Inhofe, Hon. James M., U.S. Senator from the State of Oklahoma,
prepared statement............................................. 111
WITNESSES
Scott, Daniel, Canada research chair, Global Change and Tourism,
Department of Geography, University of Waterloo................ 8
Prepared statement........................................... 10
Responses to additional questions from Senator Boxer......... 21
Campion, Tom, founder, Zumiez, Inc............................... 25
Prepared statement........................................... 27
Huskins, Betty, chair, Southeast Tourism Policy Council,
AdvantageWest.................................................. 67
Prepared statement........................................... 69
Watson, Bryant M., executive director, Vermont Association of
Snow Travelers, Inc............................................ 71
Prepared statement........................................... 73
Crandall, Derrick A., president, American Recreation Coalition... 75
Prepared statement........................................... 77
Berry, Michael, president, National Ski Areas Association........ 82
Prepared statement........................................... 84
McCahill, Barry W., president, SUV Owners of America............. 86
Prepared statement........................................... 87
THE ISSUE OF POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF GLOBAL WARMING ON RECREATION AND THE
RECREATION INDUSTRY
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 24, 2007
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Environment and Public Works,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:30 a.m. in
room 406, Dirksen Senate Office Building, the Hon. Barbara
Boxer (chairman of the committee) presiding.
Present: Senators Boxer, Lautenberg, Sanders, Klobuchar,
Whitehouse.
STATEMENT OF HON. BARBARA BOXER, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF
CALIFORNIA
Senator Boxer. The meeting will come to order. I am very
pleased to welcome the witnesses here today to discuss the
impacts that global warming may have on outdoor recreation.
Outdoor recreation is one of life's greatest blessings. It
is also an important economic engine for the United States. We
have a very distinguished panel here, and if you give me a
minute, I want to introduce some people that have come along
because of their great interest in this subject.
I don't know if Senator Inhofe is coming today, but I want
the word to go out if he does, I have a little global warming
gift for him. He got me a global warming mug, which when you
put hot water in it, the whole world melts away.
[Laughter.]
Senator Boxer. I have another really very nice gift for
him. I hope he comes.
I am just looking for my papers here, and I found them,
because we do have some special people. Today on our witness
list we have Dr. Daniel Scott, Canada research chair, Global
Change and Tourism, Department of Geography, University of
Waterloo; and Michael Berry, president of the National Ski
Areas Association.
Where is Tom? Tom, I missed you. Tom Campion is founder of
Zumiez; Bryant Watson, Vermont Association of Snow Travelers;
Betty Huskins, chair of the Southeast Tourism Policy Council,
AdvantageWest; Derrick Crandall, president, American Recreation
Coalition; and Barry McCahill, president, SUV Owners of
America.
I wanted to point out that Mr. Campion is accompanied by
members of the Action Sports Environmental Coalition. I want to
introduce these people to you and ask them to stand as I read
their name. We have world class skateboarder Bob Burnquist.
Bob, welcome. We have former pro-snowboarder Circe Wallace. We
welcome you.
We have X-Games winner Jen O'Brien. We welcome you. We have
executive director of the Action Sports Environmental Coalition
Frank Scura; and we have the director of the Bob Burnquist
Global Cooling Challenge, Scott Murray with us as well.
So we just want to make sure the record showed you were
here. If you have anything that you want to put into the record
by way of statements, I will leave the record open until the
end of the day today.
So we know that outdoor recreation is something we have all
had a chance to take advantage of, and we want it for future
generations. We cherish the ability to spend time outside
visiting our parks and forests, our oceans and beaches, and our
mountain landscapes.
Senator Lautenberg, will you sit here in Senator Baucus's
seat?
Senator Lautenberg. My pleasure, Madam Chairman.
Senator Boxer. Thank you.
Some of us like to play golf. Some of us like to swim and
fish. Some of us like to ski and use snowmobiles. Many of us
enjoy touring our national parks and relaxing beside our
beautiful coastlines. These activities sustain us and our
culture, and contribute immensely to our overall well being.
They also contribute a great deal to our national economy.
Global warming can have a profound and negative impact on
our outdoor recreation opportunities and businesses. We are
already seeing decreases in the amount of snowpack in certain
western areas of the United States. According to a 2004 study
by the University of Washington, from 1950 to 1997, in some
areas of Oregon, western Washington and northern California,
snow packs shrank by 50 percent to 75 percent, with the
dominant factor being global warming.
Decreases in snowpack in the northern Rockies during that
period range between 15 percent and 30 percent, and it is clear
that many glaciers are melting in our national parks, including
at Glacier National Park. According to the U.S. National
Assessment, a major scientific review drafted by a team of
leading experts from government, universities, industry and
other institutions, the length of the snow season decreased by
16 days from 1951 to 1996 in California and Nevada.
These decreases in snowpack and in the length of the snow
season can directly impact activities like skiing and
snowmobiling, which are key aspects of outdoor winter
recreation.
Outdoor recreation is serious business as well. In 2006,
national tourism-related sales amounted to $1.2 trillion--$1.2
trillion--and were responsible for over 8 million jobs. Around
here, we have a lot of voices calling for more jobs. Senator
Sanders has been one of our leaders on this. Here we have an
industry that is responsible, Senator, for 8 million jobs.
International travel, which ranks ahead of agriculture and
automobile production as a net export, accounted for $107.4
billion in sales. For California, direct spending in 2006
provided $94 billion and supported more than 900,000 jobs.
Senator would you move up and sit next to Senator
Klobuchar? This is called instant seniority. Don't let it go to
your head.
[Laughter.]
Senator Boxer. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change has recently said that it is virtually certain that
warmer temperatures will have effects on winter tourism. The
IPCC's second report this year said that warming in western
mountains is projected to cause decreased snowpack, and that
snow and length of snow depth are very likely to crease in most
of North America.
The IPCC also found that coastal communities and habitats
will be increasingly stressed by climate change impacts.
Global warming is the greatest challenge of our time, and
if left unchecked it will have a negative effect in many areas
of our lives and businesses. Outdoor recreation is perhaps one
of the first and most obvious aspects of our lives that global
warming will touch, but many others will follow.
It is up to us to face this challenge squarely and act
immediately to avert the worst effects of global warming. Our
ability to continue to enjoy the great outdoors in the many
ways we have learned to love and cherish it, and the many ways
we enrich our lives beyond compare, is placed at risk by global
warming. In addition, many businesses and millions of jobs in
the recreation industry are threatened by global warming.
I know that we as a Nation and as a world will rise to meet
this challenge, and we will be better off in every way. The
window is closing and we need to act now. The reason I wanted
to have this particular industry before us is they are sounding
the alarm.
Once again, I want to welcome all the witnesses. I am so
pleased to have so many of my colleagues from our side here
today. I hope that the Republican side will come as well. In
order of arrival, I would call on Senator Klobuchar for her
opening remarks.
STATEMENT OF HON. AMY KLOBUCHAR, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF
MINNESOTA
Senator Klobuchar. All right. It is great to be here with
all of you. Thank you for coming.
Whether it is fishing, biking, hunting, bird watching,
snowmobiling, skiing, outdoor sports are a big part of what
Minnesota is all about. It is also a big part of our economy.
Each year, Minnesotans spend more than $1.8 billion on outdoor-
related recreation. I guess I would ask if I could pose a
question to our Chairwoman. I will have to pose it.
Chairwoman Boxer, I have a question about Minnesota sports
for you.
Senator Boxer. OK.
Senator Klobuchar. How much money do you think we spend on
worms every year in Minnesota?
[Laughter.]
Senator Boxer. I have to Google that information.
[Laughter.]
Senator Klobuchar. It would be $50 million we spend on
worms and bait. I think we might lead California on that one.
But it is just an example.
Senator Boxer. I will give you that title.
[Laughter.]
Senator Klobuchar. But it is a wonderful example of how the
outdoors are such an important part of our economy in
Minnesota. I can tell you that those that participate in all
kinds of sports across our State are getting increasingly
concerned about warmer winters and about climate change.
There is a couple out on Leech Lake who care about this
issue because it has taken them a month longer to get their
fishhouse out for ice fishing. I have heard it from high school
ski coaches who are having trouble recruiting skiers to their
sport because of the lack of snow. I have heard it from
snowmobile clubs in Detroit Lakes, who are upset because the
time period when they can use their snowmobiles is shrinking.
It is not just about winter sports. It impacts us across
the board. There are hunters and anglers in Hibbing, MN who
care about the issue because they have seen the changes in our
wetlands and our wildlife. Some of the most prized fish, like
brook trout in northern Minnesota, are coldwater fish. These
fish need clear, cold, surface runoff water to thrive.
Currently, models done by the University of Minnesota-Duluth
predict that prize coldwater fish will disappear as the water
temperature in Lake Superior continue to rise. At the moment,
that lake is at record high temperatures.
If rising temperatures and lower lake levels harm fish
populations and change wildlife patterns, it is going to have
serious implications for recreation in Minnesota.
So I would end by saying that this is an issue that has
finally moved out of the science labs and seminar rooms of our
universities, and it has entered the everyday conversation of
people from all walks of life. People from our State are hoping
that this Congress will confront the challenge of rising
temperatures with comprehensive and constructive action. Our
State has done that. We passed one of the most aggressive
renewable portfolio standards in the country for electricity,
signed into law by our Republican Governor. I admire the
courage of our State and California and Arizona and New Jersey
and other States that are taking the lead on this, but States
are supposed to be the laboratories of democracy. They are
supposed to be courageous. But that doesn't mean that we should
have inaction by the Federal Government.
So I want to thank you for being here today and being part
of this important committee as we search for solutions, and we
can't search for long. It is time to act.
Thank you.
Senator Boxer. Senator, thank you so much. This is the
second time I have heard you talk with eloquence about----
Senator Klobuchar. About worms?
Senator Boxer. About worms.
[Laughter.]
Senator Boxer. About global warming and its real impact on
the quality of life of the people in your State. It really
resonates because if you just think about what it would be like
if the climate changed dramatically there, it just would be a
very different place, a different place from the one you grew
up in.
Senator Klobuchar. Thank you. I appreciate that. I am going
to have to leave a little early for another hearing, but I
think we will have a few questions that we will submit for the
record. Thank you.
Senator Boxer. Thank you so much, Senator.
Senator Sanders.
STATEMENT OF HON. BERNARD SANDERS, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE
OF VERMONT
Senator Sanders. Thank you very much, Madam Chair, for
holding this hearing. I think you are exactly right in saying
that global warming is the challenge of the time. If we don't
get it right, the young people who are here today with us are
going to see a quality of life in this country and around the
world far inferior to what we enjoy today. It is incumbent upon
us to address this issue.
I am just delighted that we have so many articulate guests
who are going to be explaining the impact of global warming in
terms of their industries and in their regions of the country.
I am especially delighted to welcome Bryant Watson, who has for
many years now been the executive director of the Vermont
Association of Snowmobile Travelers. In the State of Vermont,
snowmobiling is not only a significant industry in terms of
bringing much-needed money into our rural areas, but it is an
important recreational activity for tens and tens of thousands
of Vermonters.
I was mentioning to somebody this morning that one of our
schools in northern Vermont, the kids drive to school in their
snowmobiles. They park the snowmobiles outside. It is a family-
based activity and it is a very, very good thing for people in
the State of Vermont and for the kind of revenue that we
generate when out of staters come to the State.
As Mr. Watson will tell you, we have had some very, very
rough winters in recent years. The result of those rough
winters, those winters without snow, have been that people in
the snowmobile industry, people in our skiing industry, have
lost substantial sums of money. People are not coming to the
State of Vermont to ski, to snowmobile, when there is not snow,
and in recent years there have been winters without significant
amounts of snow.
So when we talk about global warming, when we talk about
droughts, and we talk about the loss of glaciers and
permafrost, and forest fires, let us not forget what global
warming is meaning not just in the future, but today for the
income and the way of life of millions and millions of
Americans who enjoy wintertime activities.
So I just want to thank you, Madam Chair, for holding this
important hearing, and welcoming our guests here. I look
forward to hearing what they have to say.
Senator Boxer. Thank you, Senator Sanders.
Senator Lautenberg.
STATEMENT OF HON. FRANK R. LAUTENBERG, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
Senator Lautenberg. Thank you, Madam Chairman, for holding
today's hearing. We are about 24 hours from a holiday weekend.
The climate will make a huge difference in how people enjoy
themselves and what kind of recreation they have. I am a tree
hugger from way back. As a matter of fact, I skied in Vermont,
I don't want to say before Senator Sanders was born, but
anyway----
[Laughter.]
Senator Lautenberg. I don't know if it was that long ago,
but many years in Colorado, and I have ski-competitive kids in
a serious way, and grandchildren who are now expert skiers. I
belong to the Ski Association, Mr. Berry. If you look back, I
started skiing in 1946, when I got out of the Army. One of the
most healthful things that I did was to go skiing and take my
kids skiing, and learn and teach them that the outdoors is the
best gymnasium you could find.
We do go fishing, and sometimes we even catch something,
but more often than not the fish gets a chance to swim again.
It means so much. When we talk about a legacy that we would
like to leave our children and our grandchildren and future
generations, what could be better than a balanced climate
structure.
Right now, we are still facing doubters who sit--and I am
sorry that they are absent because I don't like to talk about
them when they are not here; I like to talk about them when
they are here--but the fact of the matter is there is still
doubt. They are throwing up challenges to the fact that there
is climate change.
Well, I know that in New Jersey, for instance, people
descend on the shore and they go to bird watch--thousands and
thousands of people will go. We have seen declines in species,
declines in numbers of birds on the flyways. People like to
hunt and fish. These activities are part of the lives of New
Jerseyans, but unless we act to end global warming, the future
of these destinations is in jeopardy.
Our country's average temperature was 2.2 degrees warmer
last year than the average temperature throughout the 20th
century, according to NOAA. These rising temperatures, as I
note, cause a decrease in the patterns of flying that birds
take. We have a huge bird population, but a drop in the State's
overall tourism revenue is quickly noted, and unfortunately in
serious decline.
One estimate shows that bird watching, hunting and fishing
bring $4.1 billion every year into New Jersey alone. Not only
are we seeing these changes in the spring and summer, but
climate changes pose a significant threat to our winter
tourism. Our ski mountains are not very high. The top is in the
hundreds of feet. I think we have one place that is skyscraping
high that is 1,200 feet. From the top, you can see the bottom.
But we have these modest height mountains, but people love to
be out there. It causes enormous changes in the economy of
these communities.
Warmer temperatures in the winter, more rain, less snow,
more extreme events, avalanches and landslides, which you see
in the far western States. Ski areas in New Jersey, they are
low altitudes, will be some of the first to experience rain
instead of snow, and the change in winter weather forces
tourists to stay away. It costs workers their jobs and forces
ski areas to shut down.
Global warming is causing similar problems across the
country. In Colorado, recent climate models show that popular
ski resorts such as Aspen and Vail could lose more than 40
percent of their snowpack in the coming century. In Montana,
glaciers in Glacier National Park are melting. The park's
largest glaciers are about one third of the size they were 200
years ago, one third of the size.
When it comes to impacts of global warming, this committee
has heard from scientists. We have heard from businesses. We
have heard from our cities and States. We are very appreciative
of the leadership that our Chairman has provided. She is there
challenging whatever sits as a condition that needs to be
changed, that needs to be examined, and we do it vigorously. I
am grateful to Senator Boxer for doing these things, and
reminding us that there is more than just the budgets and
things of that nature. We cannot forget nature and the human
contact with nature.
Six years ago, I went down to the South Pole. I have been
up to the Arctic to see what was happening with the ice melt
there. I met with the National Science Foundation people. It
was painful, because you could hear the ice plates shifting,
and it sounded like groaning. When you see what it means for
the penguin growth to be sustained and present, and recognize
that they have to go further and further to find food to bring
back to their young. The ice melt--we have seen these floes the
size of States. Rhode Island, unfortunately, has been picked
out as a place that resembles in size one of the ice floes that
have seen.
So Madam Chairman, we thank you and we are all determined,
as you are, to continue our fight against the loss of these
precious assets that this country has.
Senator Boxer. Thank you so much, Senator.
Senator Whitehouse.
STATEMENT OF HON. SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
Senator Whitehouse. Thank you, Madam Chair.
I just want to remark on something that Senator Lautenberg
said, which I think is so important. Whether you are ice
fishing in Minnesota, with worms, or snowmobiling in Vermont or
bird watching in New Jersey, or surfing in California, or
fishing in Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, these
opportunities for families to have experiences in the outdoors
are the jewels, really, of family memory. Sometimes these are
things that grandchildren do with their grandparents. When they
grow up, they pass it on to their grandchildren themselves. It
is the favorite fishing spot. It is the favorite skiing spot.
So there is a lot at stake here that comes in under the
science. I think the point that Senator Lautenberg made along
those lines is something we really have to bear in mind. I have
the good fortune to be married to a marine biologist, a
scientist, so I spend a lot of time in the scientific
community. One of the things that I noticed, or learned early,
is how small a difference can make how big a difference.
Years ago, the guy who does most of the work on
Narragansett Bay on bay temperatures and so forth, we were
sitting with him and talking about various things. He said that
in the last I think it was 30 years, the temperature of
Narragansett Bay has gone up 4 degrees. Well, I swim in all
kinds of weather in the ocean. Four degrees doesn't seem to
make a very big difference. So I challenge him. I said, well, 4
degrees isn't much; I can't really tell the difference between
62 degrees and 66 degrees when I am swimming; it is just cold.
He said, no, you don't understand. From an ecological point
of view, that is a full ecosystem shift.
So things that might not seem to us to be so significant
immediately, can have enormous consequences in the ecosystem
that supports these activities.
Madam Chair, you have done a wonderful job in leading this
committee, and I am very proud to be with you, and keep
slugging away.
Thank you.
Senator Boxer. Thank you, Senator. Once again, I think you
put it into human terms because when we talk about recreation
in America, we are talking about family. We are talking about
children. We are talking about joy. We are talking about
health. We are talking about education, too. You don't learn
everything in the classroom, as you well know.
So I think this is why we wanted to have this panel, and we
are going to get to it. Senator Sanders, I was also saying we
are talking about millions of good jobs that are at stake here.
The one thing I wanted to announce is that Senator Isakson
and I are leading a bipartisan codel to Greenland in July. We
are going to examine the ice condition there, and many
colleagues already have agreed to go on this trip. We are
inviting anyone in the Senate who is interested in it. I
mention that because we are just going to keep doing our work,
because when people say nothing is happening, nothing is wrong,
we are going to go where the facts show us exactly what is
happening, and that is one place, Greenland, where we are going
to pick up some facts.
So now we are going to get started with Dr. Scott. It was a
long time since I mentioned what everyone does on the panel, so
I will reiterate: Canada research chair, Global Change and
Tourism Department of Geography, University of Waterloo.
STATEMENT OF DANIEL SCOTT, CANADA RESEARCH CHAIR, GLOBAL CHANGE
AND TOURISM, DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY, UNIVERSITY OF WATERLOO
Mr. Scott. Thank you, Senators. First of all, let me
apologize for the state of my voice. I have two daughters who
are under the age of 4, and it seems impossible to stay healthy
these days. So hopefully my voice will get through this.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today
on this hearing on the implications of global warming in the
recreation sector. It is an issue that I have personally worked
on for about 10 years now. It is in my capacity, again, as a
Canada research chair, but also as the chair of the World
Meteorological Organization. They have an expert team on
tourism and climate. I am the chair of that, so it is also in
that capacity that I speak to you today.
In my written testimony, I tried to summarize for you the
scientific literature on this issue that pertains specifically
to the United States, to give you a reference for that. It is
based on that scientific literature that I make my summary
remarks to you this morning.
First of all, climate change is anticipated to have far-
reaching consequences for the recreation sector. This is
because both the supply and demand within the recreation sector
are heavily influenced by weather and climate today. The
impacts will be particularly significant if high-emission
scenarios are realized in the coming decades.
Importantly, to emphasize, climate change represents both a
risk and an opportunity for this sector. The winners and
losers, if you will, will vary by market segment. They will
also vary by geographic region. We are only in the early stages
of trying to sort out exactly who those winners and losers will
be, and which areas, which businesses will need the most
assistance in the future.
Particularly at risk in this sector by mid-century are the
winter recreation industries of skiing and snowmobiling, that I
have done a lot of work on myself. There are known
vulnerabilities to exist, and some of them have been identified
already, but throughout the Southeast, the Northeast, the
Midwest, Rocky Mountain, and Pacific Northwest ski areas, as
well as California.
The economic losses in these industries are likely to be in
the order of billions of dollars. The cultural loss of the
recreation activities that define some of these regions,
however, are very difficult to put a monetary value on.
The Senators have identified several other key
vulnerabilities, areas where the key recreation or resources
for recreation will be vulnerable and threatened. Some examples
already given were the coldwater fishery, particularly at its
southern margins, but also throughout the Great Lakes and
Midwest States; specific places like Glacier National Park,
where its very namesake and one of its principal attractions is
likely to be lost; and areas such as California, Las Vegas and
other areas where we have limited water resources that may
actually preclude some of the climate adaptations that we are
stressing such as snow-making and golf course irrigation, as
two examples.
Most of the potential opportunities associated with global
warming in this sector will accrue to the northern States,
largely in the form of extended summer recreation seasons from
a climate perspective. Consequently, there is the potential for
a net northward shift in recreation spending, as those in
northern States spend their recreation dollars closer to home,
taking advantage of some of those extended summer recreation
seasons, and also have less demand for golf and beach trips
further south during the winter months.
Because climate is changing and we are committed to some
amount of further warming regardless of how successful we are
on mitigation, adaptation will be necessary to minimize damages
and capitalize on any opportunities that may present
themselves. This is already happening at the individual
business and community level in an ad hoc manner. A few example
are a few years ago, I was contacted by a California investment
company looking to buy a Colorado ski resort, and they wanted
advice in a climate change context. I personally know of banks
both in Europe and here in North America who are already
adapting their lending practices to ski areas.
Some communities, as was identified, Aspen and recreational
organizations as one example, the Wildlife Society, are also
beginning to do their own research to figure out what their
options are in terms of adapting to a warmer world.
There is tremendous adaptive capacity in the recreation
sector. However, we need to develop much better information to
provide businesses and communities with as much lead time as
possible to adapt to climate change in an economically and
environmentally sustainable manner. This information, in my
opinion, is needed sooner, rather than later, because although
we generally think of climate change impacts as far out into
the future, a number of the impacts that I highlighted for you
in my written testimony will actually take place in my working
career, and at most within my lifetime.
So it is not just future generations that are going to have
to cope with climate change, but indeed some of the generation
that you see sitting before you today.
With that, I thank you for your time.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Scott follows:]
Statement of Daniel Scott, Canada Research Chair, Global Change and
Tourism, Department of Geography, University of Waterloo
INTRODUCTION
In its Fourth Assessment Report, the United Nations Inter-
governmental Panel on Climate Change (2007) indicated that some degree
of climate change was inevitable in the 21st century regardless of the
success of international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As
a consequence, societies around the world will need to adapt to some
magnitude of climate change in the decades ahead, adjusting human
systems in order to moderate potential damages or realize new
opportunities. Climate change was recognized by the United States
National Research Council (on behalf of the National Science
Foundation) as one of eight ``grand challenges'' in the environmental
sciences (Committee on Grand Challenges in Environmental Sciences,
2001). Of particular importance, the Council noted, is the need for
improved assessment capabilities with regards to the impacts of climate
change on human and natural systems.
One economic sector in which climate change is anticipated to have
considerable consequences is that of outdoor recreation, because it is
highly influenced by climate. Climate defines the length and quality of
multi-billion dollar outdoor recreation seasons, such as skiing,
snowmobiling, golf, boating, and beach use, which subsequently
influence sales of related sporting equipment and also tourism related
spending. Climate also affects a wide range of environmental resources
that are critical to the recreation sector, such as snow conditions,
wildlife productivity, and water levels, and affects various facets of
recreation operations (e.g., snowmaking or irrigation needs, open fire
or swimming bans). Despite the importance of weather and climate to
outdoor recreation, the sensitivity of individual recreation industries
to climate variability the complexities of the interactions between
climate change and recreation sector have not been adequately assessed
to date.
It is beyond the scope of this testimony to provide a comprehensive
assessment of the implications of climate change for the recreation
sector of the United States, instead illustrative examples of the
implications of projected changes in climate are provided for a variety
of participation land, water and snow-based outdoor recreation
activities, including hunting, fishing, park visitation, golf, boating,
beach use, skiing, and snowmobiling.
OUTDOOR RECREATION IN THE UNITED STATES
Demand for outdoor activities in the United States substantial and
varied geographically. According to the most recent National Survey on
Recreation and the Environment (NSRE, U.S. Forest Service, 2000), 97.5
percent of Americans aged 16 and over participate in some form of
outdoor recreation at least once per annum. When Americans participate
in outdoor recreation, they spend money and create jobs while at the
same time improving their physical and mental health. A recent
assessment of the `Active Outdoor Recreation Economy' estimated that
this sector has an annual economic contribution of $730 billion and
supports over 6.5 million jobs (Southwick Associates 2006). This
suggests that if substantive climate change impacts (positive or
negative) occur in this sector, the economic implications are not
likely to be trivial.
IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE FOR OUTDOOR RECREATION IN THE UNITED
STATES: A REVIEW OF EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE
As in the National Survey on Recreation and the Environment (U.S.
Forest Service, 2000), this discussion is organized into three
sections, covering land-based, water-based, and snow and ice-based,
recreation activities. Where possible, existing empirical analyses of
the potential impacts of climate change on specific recreation
activities are summarized; where no such investigations are available,
broad-level implications are conjectured. As indicated, climate change
would have both direct and indirect impacts on recreation activities--
direct, through changes in climatic conditions such as temperature and
precipitation, and indirect via the impacts of these climatic changes
on the natural resources base. Both types of impacts are considered in
the discussion below.
Land Based Activities
Land based activities constitute the largest category of outdoor
recreation participation (U.S. Forest Service, 2000), and, in many
cases, the positive experience of such activities is contingent upon
one or more elements of the landscape (flora, fauna, and/or natural
scenery) in which they occur. Despite the large numbers of Americans
engaging in such activities, the relatively narrow range of atmospheric
conditions in which they ideally occur, and the potential impacts of
projected climate change on both atmospheric and environmental
conditions, there appears to have been limited research into the likely
impacts of climate change on patterns of participation. Studies
addressing the potential implications of climate change for camping,
hunting, viewing wildlife and natural scenery, and golf, are summarized
below.
Camping
According to the National Sporting Goods Association (2005), over
55.3 million Americans aged seven or older went camping once or more in
2004, making this the second most popular of the sporting activities
this agency monitors. While styles of camping may vary considerably,
from large recreational vehicles with all modern conveniences, to back-
country and wilderness locations with no facilities provided, most
camping trips are impacted by weather conditions to a lesser or greater
extent. Loomis and Crespi (1999) and Mendelsohn and Markowski (1999)
concurred that at the national-level increases in temperature (from 1.5
C to 5 C) and precipitation (from 0 percent to 15 percent) would have
a negative impact on the numbers of people participating in, and the
welfare value generated by, camping. Key limitations of both of these
studies are that they fail to take into consideration regional
variations in seasonal activity patterns or climate change scenarios
and thus provide no information on regions that may see reduced or
increased camping activity. Illustrative of the regionally specific
impacts on camping seasons are studies in southern Canada that are
latitudinal (and climatological) equivalents to northern states in New
England or the Midwest, which project an extension of the camping
season in the spring and fall shoulder seasons and increases in camping
related revenues (23 percent to 36 percent by the 2050s--Wall et al.
1986).
Hunting
According to the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-
Associated Recreation (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2002), over 13
million Americans aged 16 or older spent over 228 million days and
nearly $22 billion on hunting-related activities in 2001. The Wildlife
Society (2004) has examined the potential impacts of climate change for
wildlife in North America and concluded that wildlife managers,
including those who manage wildlife populations for recreational
hunting, cannot ignore the important implications.
According to Mendelsohn and Markowski (1999), climate change
(increases in temperature from 1.5 C to 5 C and in precipitation from
0 percent to 15 percent) is unlikely to have any significant impact on
the welfare value generated by hunting activity in the U.S. over the
next 50 years. While the total value of hunting within in the U.S. may
indeed remain relatively unchanged under warmer, wetter conditions,
considerable geographic shifts in hunting activity should be
anticipated as a result of changes in the geographic distribution and
relative abundance of species. Vegetation modeling studies on the
impacts of climate change on terrestrial vegetation have consistently
projected major shifts in vegetation types over much of the continent
(Neilson, 1998; Cramer et al., 2001), with interconnected impacts on
wildlife habitat. Thomas et al. (2004, p. 147) stated that, ``Despite
the uncertainties. . .the overall conclusions. . .establish that
anthropogenic climate warming at least ranks alongside other recognized
threats to global biodiversity [and] contrary to previous projections,
it is likely to be the greatest threat in many if not most regions.''
Indeed, a series of meta-analyses (Parmesan and Yohe, 2003; Root et
al., 2003) have compiled evidence that physical and biological systems
are already responding to the changing climate of the twentieth
century.
Loomis and Crespi's (1999) analysis of the potential impact on
waterfowl hunting suggested there would be virtually no change in
hunter days in the U.S., however this analysis only considered the
implications of climate change for the future availability of wetlands
on the east coast of the U.S., while implications for the single most
important waterfowl habitat region in North America, the prairie
pothole region, were overlooked. The prairie pothole region is one of
the most productive waterfowl regions in the world and although it only
represents an estimated 10 percent of waterfowl breeding habitat in
North America, the region produces 50-80 percent of the continents
ducks annually (Batt, Anderson, Anderson, & Caswell, 1989). Some
anticipated ecological impacts of climate change in this region
include: fewer wetlands on average; shorter flooding duration for
wetlands; greater annual variability in surface water; changes in
agriculture and waterfowl food supply; and changes to water depth,
salinity, temperature, plants, and aquatic food webs. A study by
LeBlanc et al. (1991) estimated that the impacts of climate change
would bring about a decline of 22 percent in duck productivity in North
Dakota and concluded that this result could be approximated to the
entire prairie pothole and parkland region of the U.S. and Canada. Had
Loomis and Crespi (1999) used this region as the basis for their study,
the outcome would have been significantly different.
Viewing wildlife and natural scenery
The viewing of wildlife and natural scenery is a broad category
that encompasses a variety of activities in a variety of settings. In
2001, over 66 million Americans aged 16 or older spent over $38 billion
on wildlife watching activities (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2002).
Eagles et al. (2000) estimated that over 2.6 billion visitor days were
spent in national-state parks and protected areas in the U.S. and
Canada in 1996.
An ongoing study of the potential implications of climate change
for national park visits illustrates that there are likely to be very
different regional impacts (Hyslop and Scott 2007). Recreation
activities in many of the parks in the northern U.S. are constrained by
winter conditions, and with a lengthened and improved warm-weather
recreation season, visitation to national-state parks in these regions
are expected to increase. For example, Acadia national park was
projected to have increased visitation of between 4-6 percent in the
2020s and 7-18 percent in the 2080s and Cuyahoga Valley increases of 3-
8 percent in the 2020s and 6-22 percent in the 2080s. Other national
parks projected to experience potentially large increases in visitation
were Rocky Mountain, Yosemite, and Olympic. Conversely, some national
parks in southern and desert states were projected to have reduced
visitation, including Everglades, Mesa Verde, and Saguaro. Notable, the
negative impact on visitation levels in these parks was not as great as
the increase in other more northerly parks. Increased visitation would
have benefits for park revenues and the economies of nearby
communities, but could exacerbate visitor-related ecological pressures
in some parks. The implications of a changed climate for park
visitation in more southern regions of the U.S. remain uncertain
however.
Although the direct impacts of a changed climate alone may increase
visitation to some parks, the environmental changes resulting from
alterations in climate may reduce the attractiveness of the landscape
to the extent that visitation may be adversely impacted. Two studies
have assessed the potential impacts of climate-induced environmental
change in the Rocky Mountain region. Richardson and Loomis (2005) asked
visitors to Rocky Mountain National Park how their visitation patterns
(number and length of stays) might change under a series of
hypothetical environmental change scenarios for the 2020s. Scott et al.
(2007) used a similar approach in Glacier-Waterton Lakes International
Peace Park, where they asked tourists to consider three hypothetical
environmental change scenarios (for the 2020s, 2050s and 2080s) and
indicate whether they would still visit the park and, if so, more or
less frequently.
Richardson and Loomis (2005) found that the majority of respondents
indicated that they would not change their visitation patterns to Rocky
Mountain National Park under the three scenarios provided. The changes
in visitation behavior resulted in a 10 percent to 14 percent increase
in annual visitation under the first two scenarios, while the `extreme
heat' scenario caused a 9 percent decline in visitation. The findings
of Scott et al. (2007) in Glacier-Waterton International Peace Park for
the 2020s were largely consistent with those of Richardson and Loomis
(2005). Under the 2080s scenario, however, 19 percent of respondents
reported that they would no longer visit the park and, of the 81
percent who would still visit, 37 percent stated they would do so less
often. The loss of glaciers in the park was the most important reason
cited for not intending to visit the park in the future.
Landscape change in parks is likely to be personally meaningful to
many Americans and therefore presents an educational opportunity via
interpretive programs. For example, while the loss of Glacier National
Park's namesake would be a significant heritage loss, it could serve an
important educational role to inform visitors about climate change.
Bird watching has undergone tremendous growth over the past 30
years in the U.S. Participation in birding among Americans grew 232
percent between 1983 and 2001 (Cordell and Herbert 2002) and today
there are over 70 million bird watchers in the United States. Of the 51
recreational activities currently tracked through the U.S. National
Survey on Recreation and the Environment, birding represents the 15th
most popular activity (U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and
Wildlife Service 2001). Avitourism is a significant and growing tourism
market. In 1996, over U.S. $6 billion was spent on trips associated
with birding in the United States (American Birding Association 2002).
The number of communities organizing birding festivals has increased
from 12 in 1993 to over 200 in 2002 (Cordell and Herbert 2002) and
birding travel routes are being established to attract avitourism.
Bird species can be affected by climatic changes in a number of
ways, including changes in their habitat range, availability of food
sources at certain times of the year, the timing and path of
migrations, and nesting behaviour. Research suggests that climatic
changes during the 20th century have already had a discernable impact
on bird populations in North America (Price and Glick 2002) and Europe
(Lemoine and Bohning-Gaese 2002). Climate change in the 21st century is
projected to further impact the distribution and diversity of bird
populations in North America. Price and Root (2001) argue that the
number of neotropical migrant species present in the U.S. would decline
under projected climate change, with the largest species losses in the
Eastern Midwest (^30 percent), Great Lakes (^29 percent), Mid-Atlantic
(^23 percent), and Southeast (^22 percent) regions. With an estimated
one in every three of North American songbirds born in Canada's boreal
forest Blancher 2002), the projected decline and retreat of the
southern boreal forest due to climate change (Hogg and Hurdle 1995,
Scott et al. 2002) has important implications for songbird populations.
The degradation or loss of critical habitats (particularly key
wetlands) could have a significant impact on birding destinations. The
increased rarity of some species could however generate increased
tourism, as birders travel further in search of these species.
Climate change impacts on the vegetation and hydrology of the New
England and Midwest states could also impact recreation associated with
fall foliage (leaf colour touring) that currently a highly popular and
economically valuable activity in these regions. Fall colour
sightseeing draws visitors from across the U.S. (Andrews 1999) and
would be negatively affected by the projected decline in maple trees
(which provide the bright red colour essential to spectacular fall
landscapes) and a greater abundance of less colourful tree species.
Vegetation modelling has projected the maple- beech-birch forest type
that currently dominates the region would be replaced by the oak-
hickory forest type under climate change conditions (Iverson and Prasad
1998). How people respond to changes in forest landscapes remains an
important uncertainty in determining the vulnerability of fall tourism
in this region (U.S. National Assessment-NE regional report 2000).
Golf
The golf industry is one of the largest recreation sectors in U.S.
and one that is highly influenced by weather and climate. There are
approximately 20,000 golf courses (World Golf Foundation, 2001) and
according to the U.S. Census Bureau (2004), 27.6 million golfers
(persons aged 12 or older who played one round or more) played 552
million rounds of golf in 2001. In 2000, golf accounted for $62 billion
worth of goods and services in the U.S. and supported over 295,000 paid
employees, of which $20.5 billion in revenues were generated directly
at golf facilities, mainly through green fees (World Golf Foundation,
2002). By comparison, the golf sector is estimated to approximate the
economic size of the motion picture industry in the United States
($57.8 billion) (U.S. Census Bureau, 2001).
Golf industry reports and professional journal articles, the golf
industries in the United States are very aware of the importance of
weather and climate to their business. According to the 2001 Golf 20/20
Industry Report, the single most important factor impacting rounds
played [both positively and negatively each year] continues to be
weather (World Golf Foundation, 2001). In a survey of 2,426 golf
courses in the United States, 52 percent identified climate variability
as the leading reason for lower than expected rounds played in 2000 and
2001, while 35 percent cited climatic variability as the primary reason
for higher than expected rounds played (World Golf Foundation, 2004).
By comparison, less than 10 percent of golf courses participating in
the same survey identified the economy or course renovations in
positively or negatively influencing rounds played. Another analysis of
golf participation (1,849 golf courses) in the United States also
identified variations in weather as the primary reason for positively
(35 percent) and negatively (62 percent) affecting annual rounds played
in 2003 over 2002 (National Golf Foundation, 2004).
It is clear that the North American golf industry attributes a
considerable share of its economic success to weather and climate, yet
surprisingly very few studies have attempted to assess the empirical
relationship between weather and climate and the golf sector. The lack
of research examining the impact of weather and climate on the golf
industry was acknowledged by the World Golf Foundation (2001) in its
2001 20/20 Golf Industry Report. The report recommended that more
analysis of rounds played and weather [and climate] was needed. The
need for research into the potential impacts of climate change on the
golf sector has also been acknowledged by the European golf industry.
Drawing on the input of over 250 stakeholders, including course
mangers, union leaders and professional organizations, the Golf Course
Advisory Panel at the Royal and Ancient Golf Course of St. Andrews
(Scotland) identified climate change as one of six strategic issues
facing the golf industry over the next 20 years (Royal and Ancient Golf
Club of St. Andrews, 2000).
Loomis and Crespi (1999) attempted to project golf participation in
the United States under climate change scenario. Although they do not
describe how rounds played were converted into golf days, they
projected that under the arbitrary climate change scenario they used
(+2. C/4.5 F; +7 percent precipitation), the U.S. golf industry would
benefit from a 14 percent increase in golf days in the 2050s. The
methodology used in this study was limited in that a single climate
change scenario was applied to the entire country and as such it did
not take into account climate change uncertainty by examining a range
of future climates and ignored the regional differences of projected
climate change in the U.S. More importantly, the study did not
distinguish local and state-level golf from out-of-state tourism-based
participation (e.g., golf tourism to states like Florida and Arizona
from regions where golf courses are closed in winter). The model
therefore projected increased participation in northern states as
temperature increased, but did not subtract the diminished flow of golf
tourists to states that are currently golf destinations in the winter
months.
Illustrative of the regionally specific impacts on golfing are
studies in southern Canada that are latitudinal (and climatological)
equivalent to northern New England or Midwest states. Scott and Jones
(2005) examined the influence of weather conditions and climate change
on the season length and the number of rounds played in southern
Ontario (Canada). The model projected that as early as the 2020s the
average golf season could be one to seven weeks longer and with much
improved shoulder seasons annual rounds played could increase 6 percent
to 14 percent. The model results for the 2050s projected an increase in
rounds played of 8 percent to 24 percent. The increase in rounds played
occurs largely because of more conducive weather conditions that extend
the golf season up to 16 weeks in the 2080s. Similar magnitude of
impacts would be anticipated in Michigan and upstate New York and other
nearby states.
To assess the full potential impact of climate change on the golf
industry the implications for a full range of golf course operations in
regions across the U.S. is needed. A warmer climate would lead to
greater demand for turf grass irrigation in all regions. With increased
competition for water in the future, climate change is anticipated to
exacerbate the challenge of water supply for the industry. This is
particularly the case in some of the top golf destinations in the U.S.
that are projected to have acute water supply challenges in the coming
decades even if climate change does not occur. Another important issue
for golf operations is the potential impact of climate change on grass
maintenance issues, such as turf grass selection, turf diseases and
insect pests. Pests that currently have only one life cycle in northern
states could adapt to new climate regimes and have two life cycles.
Perhaps more importantly, there is the potential for turf grass
diseases and pests currently limited to more southerly latitudes to
expand into northern states and require new management interventions in
the future. Future analysis of these operational issues is essential to
provide insight into the potential ability of golf courses to take
advantage of the opportunities projected climate change would bring.
Water Based Activities
Boating
According to the U.S. Census Bureau (2004), in 2001 Americans owned
over 17 million recreational boats and made over $28.5 billion of
retail expenditures on this activity. In the same year, over 4,000 U.S.
marinas supported close to 25,000 employees and reported revenues in
excess of $3 billion. Nearly one-third of all registered boaters in the
U.S. reside in one of the eight Great Lakes states and over 1,800
marinas exist in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan alone (Lindeberg and
Albercook, 2000; Sousounis and Albercook, 2000). The potential
implications of climate change for boating in the Great Lakes region
are, therefore, of special importance from both an economic and a
social perspective.
Nevertheless, despite the size of the boating industry and the
number of participants involved, the impacts of climate change on
boating appear not to have been addressed empirically other than in one
study conducted on a national-level dataset from 1990 (Mendelsohn &
Markowski, 1999). According to the analyses conducted by these authors,
climate change is likely to have a positive impact on boating activity,
with increases in value ranging from $1.1 billion (for a 1.5 C
increase in temperature, and increases in precipitation from 0 to 15
percent) to $13.1 billion (for a 5 C increase in temperature, and
increases in precipitation from 0 to 15 percent). However, these
figures do not include consideration of the likely negative impacts of
declining water levels on the Great Lakes and reservoir lakes in the
western U.S. and thus, may overestimate this positive impact at the
regional and local level. For example, as a result of recent drought in
western states, the Colorado River Outfitters Association experienced a
40 percent decline in business, with an estimated impact of $50 million
(Associated Press 2002) and water levels in the Lake Mead, the largest
western U.S. reservoir with 10 million visitors annually, dropped
nearly 30-meter since 1999. Each six-metre reduction in water level
costs $6 million for adapting infrastructure (Allen et al. 2003).
Fishing
According to the National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife-
Associated Recreation (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 2002), over 34
million Americans aged 16 or older spent over 557 million days and $36
billion on fishing-related activities in 2001. The majority of anglers
(83 percent) fished in freshwater (including the Great Lakes), compared
to 27 percent in saltwater. The American Sportfishing Association
(2001) estimates the value of freshwater sport fishing and the
associated tourism market to exceed U.S. $11 billion in North America.
A limited number of studies that have investigated the potential
impacts of climate change on recreational fishing in North America.
Wall (1998) provided an overview of the implications of global climate
change for tourism and recreation in wetland areas, including those for
fishing. For marine wetlands, he listed inundation, erosion and
saltwater intrusion as three key negative impacts of rising sea levels,
whereas for inland wetlands, declining water levels and loss of wetland
species were noted. Such changes have important implications for water
supply and equality, as well as the distributions of vegetation,
wildlife (and, hence, wildlife viewing and hunting), and fish (and
fishing). Wall identified the most threatened coastal and inland
wetland areas as the coastal wetlands of Louisiana, and the Great
Lakes, respectively.
A number of cold-water fish species are particularly sought by
anglers. Studies of the potential impact of changes in water
temperatures for selected cold-water species have projected negative
impacts throughout the United States, including the lower Great Lakes.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1995) quantified the
potential economic impact of the projected losses of 50 percent to ^100
percent loss in cold-water fish habitat in the Great Lakes and New
England states. Their analyses suggested annual economic damages to the
U.S. sportfishing industry of $320 million by the 2050s. This study
also found that when alternative modelling assumptions were used, the
estimated damages increased substantially, suggesting the need for
further research to narrow the range of uncertainty.
A study of the impact of climate change on the recreational trout
fishery in the southern Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina found
that the decrease in thermal habitat for trout (82 percent of streams
would no longer support brook trout) would result in an annual economic
loss of $61-584 million (1995 dollars) (Ahn et al. 2000). Similar
research on the thermal habitat for salmonid species in the Rocky
Mountain region of the United States found that the projected 4 C
summer warming in the region would reduce habitat area by an estimated
62 percent (Keleher and Rahel 1996). In contrast, smallmouth bass, a
popular warm-water sport fish species, was projected by Casselman
(2002) to increase substantially in the eastern Lake Ontario area (a 1
C warming = 2.5 times increase in abundance, 2 C warming = 6 times
increase).
The cumulative impact and regional vulnerability of the North
American sportfishing industry to climate change has not been
completed, nor has there been a rigorous analysis of the potential
adaptation strategies (e.g., lake stocking strategies, angler choice of
species).
Beach Recreation
Coastal zones are among the most highly valued recreational areas
and are primary resources for the economy of communities that exploit
the sea, sun and sand for recreation. Climate change has important
implications for coastal areas both through the redistribution of
climate resources for beach use and the possible inundation of
recreation beaches by sea level rise. An early study of beach
nourishment as an adaptation strategy to preserve major recreational
beaches throughout the United States estimated the cost at $14.5
billion for a 50cm sea level rise and $26.7 billion for a 1 metre sea
level rise (Smith and Tirpak 1990). A regional study in Florida by the
U.S. EPA (1999) reported that a 60cm sea level rise would erode beaches
in parts of south Florida 30 to 60 metres unless beach nourishment
efforts were expanded. The cumulative cost of sand replenishment to
protect Florida's coast from a 50cm rise in sea level by 2100 is
estimated at $1.7 to $8.8 billion (EPA 2003).
Diving
The reefs of the Florida Keys support a large diving and fishing
industry. These activities generated an estimated $4.4 billion in
revenues in a four-county area of south Florida (Johns et al. 2001).
Like reef systems around the world, the reefs across this region have
been under considerable human-induced stress (overfishing, pollution).
Coral reefs in parts of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico have suffered
an 80 percent decline in cover over the past 30 years (Gardner et al.
2003). Recent coral bleaching events caused by high water temperatures
and scenarios for future water temperatures in the region project an
imperiled future for coral reefs and related recreational diving in the
region.
Snow and Ice Based Activities
Skiing
Snow-based recreation in the United States, encompassing downhill
(alpine) skiing and snowboarding, cross-country (nordic) skiing, and
snowshoeing, was recently estimated to contribute an estimated $66
billion to the U.S. economy and support approximately 556,000 jobs
(Southwick Associates 2006). Just over 8 percent of the U.S. population
(15.5 million people) participate in these forms of snow-based
recreation.
The ski industry has been repeatedly identified as being
particularly vulnerable to climate change and studies on the ski
industry in the U.S. (Lipski and McBoyle 1991; Hayhoe et al. 2004;
Casola et al. 2005, Reuer 2006) have each projected negative impacts,
though to varying degrees and over different time horizons. While not
all ski industry executives share his view, Patrick O'Donnell, the
Chief Executive Officer of Aspen Skiing Company, recently referred to
climate change as ``the most pressing issue facing the ski industry
today'' (Erickson 2005).
Considering only changes in natural snow conditions, the ski season
in the Sierra Nevada of California was projected to 3-6 weeks (2050s)
and 7-15 weeks (2080s) (Hayhoe et al. 2004).
Reuer (2006) modelled potential changes in snow pack in Rocky
Mountain States in the latter decades of this century, specifically the
depth of snow on April 1, and projected reductions ranging from 26
percent in Teton County (Wyoming) to over 80 percent in Salt Lake
County (Utah), San Miguel County (Colorado) and Taos County (New
Mexico). It is not clear how such changes in the spring snow pack would
translate into changes in the ski season length, so statements related
to this study that the 'ski industry in the Rockies could be shut down
by 2050' must be considered speculation at this time. Furthermore,
these U.S. studies have a very critical limitation, in that the
widespread climate adaptation of snowmaking has not been accounted for.
Consequently, these studies of the impact of climate change on ski
operations have likely overestimated future damages.
Studies by Scott et al. (2003, 2006, 2007a, 2007b) were the first
to couple a snowmaking module using climatic thresholds and operational
decision rules derived from interviews with ski area managers into a
physical snow model.. Their studies found that the incorporation of
snowmaking substantially lowered the vulnerability of ski areas in
eastern North America through the middle of the 21st century. In a
recently completed study of 14 clusters of ski areas in the U.S.
Northeast (Scott et al. 2007), even with the assumption of advanced
snowmaking systems in place, the climate change scenarios consistently
projected a trend toward shorter ski seasons.
Under the lower emission scenario for 2010-2039, only three study
areas were projected to lose less than 10 percent of the ski season,
while 10 study areas lost 10-17 percent and only the Connecticut
location lost more than 20 percent. In 2040-2069, ski season losses
were not substantially higher, with only the Connecticut location
projected to lose greater than 25 percent of its ski season. The level
of climate change impact increased in the 2080s where half of the study
areas were projected to lose 25 percent or more of their ski season.
The higher emission scenario had a much greater impact on the length of
ski seasons in the region, especially in 2040-2069 and beyond. In 2040-
2069, eight of the study areas were projected to lose 25 percent or
more of their ski season. By 2070-2099 all 14 of the study areas had
lost at least 25 percent of the ski season and half of the study areas
lost 45 percent or more.
In order to limit ski season losses to the levels described above,
snowmaking requirements were projected to increase throughout the
Northeast. Under the lower emission scenario for 2010-2039, snowmaking
requirements would increase by at least 25 percent at half of the study
areas. In 2070-2099, climate change had distinctly different impacts on
snowmaking requirements. Five of the study areas were projected to
require at least 50 percent more snowmaking and increases of 25 to 49
percent were projected for an additional four locations. The remaining
five study areas were projected to make the same amount or less
machine-made snow in 2070-2099 than 2040-2069 due to the inability to
make snow in unsuitably warm temperatures during the early and latter
part of the current ski season.
The higher emission scenario again had a much greater impact on
snowmaking requirements. In 2010-2039, nine of the study areas were
projected to require at least 25 percent more machine-made snow. In
2070-2099, three study areas were projected to require over a 100
percent increase in machine-made snow and four other locations require
at 50 to 99 percent more machine-made snow. Snowmaking was projected to
decline relative to 2040-69 in five locations (West Pennsylvania, East
Pennsylvania, Southeast New York, West New York, and Connecticut) where
warm temperature made it unfeasible during parts of the winter months.
The large increases in snowmaking requirements under climate change
also raised important questions about the sustainability of this
critical adaptation strategy in certain locations. Communities and
environmental organizations have expressed concern about the
environmental impact of water withdrawals associated with snowmaking.
Under the higher emission scenario, where a 50-100 percent increase in
snowmaking was modelled at several locations, water conflicts may be
heightened and access to water may be a critical constraint for future
snowmaking. The economic costs of increased snowmaking (energy and
water costs) were not factored into this assessment because the
detailed economic information required is not publicly available, and
this remains a critical uncertainty for the future profitability of ski
areas in the region.
Based on this analysis, it would appear that it is not the
Northeast ski industry that is at risk to climate change but rather
individual ski businesses and communities that rely on ski tourism. The
probable consequence of climate change will be a continuation of the
historic contraction and consolidation of the ski industry in the
region. It will be the relative advantages of local climatic resources
and the adaptive capacity of individual ski areas that will determine
the 'survivors' in an era of climate change. Although projected climate
change would contribute to the demise of ski businesses in some parts
of Northeast, it could advantage some of the ski operations that
remain. Assuming that skier demand declines only to the level observed
in the climate change analogue winter of 2001-02 (approximately 10
percent fewer skier visits), then ski businesses in Vermont, Northeast
New Hampshire, Northeast New York, and West Maine would be in a
position to gain market share (through diminished competition) and
potentially offset revenue losses due to reduced ski seasons and higher
snowmaking costs.
Large corporate ski conglomerates like Intrawest, the American
Skiing Company, Boyne USA Resorts and Booth Creek Resorts may be less
vulnerable to the impacts of climate change than single ski operations
because they generally have more diversified business operations (real
estate, warm-weather tourism resorts and four-season activities), are
better capitalized (so that they can make substantial investments in
snowmaking systems) and, perhaps most importantly, are regionally
diversified (which reduces their business risk to poor snow conditions
in one location).
Snowmobiling
According to the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association
(ISMA, 2004), there are approximately 1.77 million registered
snowmobiles in the United States. ISMA estimates the economic impact of
snowmobiling is equal U.S. $20 billion per annum in the U.S.; over
85,000 full time jobs are generated by the snowmobile industry in North
America, including those in manufacturing, dealerships and tourism
related businesses (ISMA, 2004).
Due to the long, linear nature of snowmobile trails, snowmaking is
rarely a viable adaptation option and the snowmobile industry relies
almost exclusively on natural snowfall. As such, several studies have
found that snowmobiling is more vulnerable to the negative impacts of
climate change than is downhill skiing. A recent study of snowmobiling
seasons in 15 study areas in the Northeast (Scott et al. 2007) found
that the climate change scenarios consistently projected a trend toward
shorter snowmobile seasons throughout the Northeast and a northward
shift in the southern margin of snowmobiling activity. As early as
2010-2039, four of the 15 study areas are projected to lose more than
50 percent of their snowmobiling season under the lower emission
scenario and six locations under the higher emission scenario. The
majority of the 15 locations examined in this study were projected to
have marginal or non-existent snowmobile seasons in 2040-2069 under
both lower and higher emission scenarios. Consequently, the loss of
snowmobiling activity and related tourism would appear unavoidable in
the following locations if the climate change scenarios projected for
2040-2069 were realized: Western New York, North-central Pennsylvania,
Southeast New York, South-central Pennsylvania, East Pennsylvania, West
Massachusetts, South New Hampshire, and Northeast New York.
The implication of a substantial decline in nearby opportunities
for snowmobile participation remains an important uncertainty. If
participation remains unchanged or declines only slightly, the few
locations that are projected to continue to have sufficient natural
snow for snowmobiling later into the 21st century (North-central New
York, North Vermont, South Vermont, North New Hampshire, Northeast
Maine, and Northwest Maine) may be in a position to market their area
to winter recreation enthusiasts and potentially benefit from a change
in the competitive relationships between winter recreation
destinations. Further research is needed to understand the influence of
distance costs and destination loyalty on changes in snowmobile
patterns as well as the environmental implications of a greater
concentration of snowmobile activity on the remaining trails with
reliable snow conditions.
Given the projected reductions to an already short snowmobile
season in much of Northeast, it is possible that snowmobilers may
choose to discontinue the use of their snowmobile and adopt another
type of recreational vehicle that is not limited by snow conditions
(i.e., all-terrain vehicles [ATVs]) or perhaps a completely different
form of recreation. Growing ATV and declining snowmobile sales in the
U.S. over the last five years may provide evidence to suggest that the
transition is already underway in some regions (Suthey Holler
Associates 2003). If a large number of snowmobilers in the region adopt
this climate adaptation strategy there would be important implications
for land managers and communities, including recreational planning and
infrastructure development, to minimize the environmental impacts of
trail use by ATVs. Under such a scenario, communities that developed
recreational trail networks for ATVs might gain a competitive advantage
over communities that continue to cater to snowmobiles.
CONCLUSIONS
Although the aforementioned examples of potential climate change
impacts discussed are no means exhaustive, it is clear that climate
change has far-reaching consequences for U.S. recreation and the
recreation businesses and industries. Importantly, it must be
emphasized that climate change will have both negative and positive
impacts on recreation sector in the U.S. creating both threats and
opportunities for both participants and recreation providers. There
will be `winners and losers' at the business and community level, and
each will need to adapt to climate change but in different ways (e.g.,
adapting to employment and economic losses versus congestion and
development pressures). As the tourism and recreation section of the
IPCC (2001) North American chapter (section 15.2.6) concluded, until
systematic regional and industry level assessments are conducted a
definitive statement of the net economic or social impacts for this
sector will not be possible. At the community level, the magnitude of
the impact of climate change will depend upon the importance of the
recreation industries in the regional economy, the characteristics of
climate change and its affect on the natural environment, the adaptive
response of recreationists, the capacity of recreation businesses adapt
to climate change, and how the impacts of climate change interact with
other long-term influencing variables in the recreation sector
(globalization and economic fluctuations, fuel prices, aging
populations in industrialized countries, increasing travel safety and
health concerns, increased environmental and cultural awareness,
advances in information and transportation technology, environmental
limitations--water supply and pollution--and so on).
Finally, because climate change is already entering into
decisionmaking in the recreation sector it is in the best interest of
the recreation industry and applicable government agencies (federal,
state and local levels) to engage in collaborative research to
determine the potential implications of climate change issue, in order
to best prepare recreation businesses and communities to minimize the
risks and capitalize upon the opportunities likely to be brought about
by climate change in an economically and environmentally sustainable
manner.
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______
Responses by Daniel Scott to Additional Questions from Senator Boxer
Question 1. Dr. Scott Glacier National Park in Montana once had 150
named glaciers. Now, it has 26. A U.S. Geological Survey study
estimates that all of the park's glaciers could disappear by 2030.
Are you familiar with this study? If we do not reduce greenhouse
gas emissions, could global warming have the same devastating impacts
on winter recreation in other areas during this century?
Response. Yes, I am familiar with this study in Glacier National
Park. In terms of glacial retreat, similar trends are being observed in
other areas of the Rocky Mountains and similar projections of future
large-scale melting of glaciers are projected throughout the Rocky
Mountains in the United States and southern Canada (see the report of
the IPCC 2007--``The Physical Science Basis''). This may have important
impact for landscape aesthetics and the number of people who visit
Glacier National Park and other parks where glaciers are projected to
retreat substantially (see surveying of tourists in Waterton and Banff
National Parks in the southern Canadian Rockies--Scott et al. 2007).
With respect to the implications of climate change for winter
recreation and tourism, large impacts are projected for snow-based
winter sports, such as skiing and snowmobiling, in the United States.
The ski industry has been repeatedly identified as being particularly
vulnerable to climate change and studies on the ski industry in the
United States, with several recent studies (California--Hayhoe et al.
2004; Pacific Northwest--Casola et al. 2005, Rocky Mountains--Reuer
2006, Aspen Colorado--Aspen Global Change Institute 2006, New England--
Scott 2007) projecting negative impacts, though to varying degrees and
over different time horizons. Information on the impact on snowmobiling
is currently more limited, but the available research suggests that
snowmobiling is more vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate
change than is downhill skiing because snowmaking is not a viable
adaptation strategy. A recent study of snowmobiling seasons in 15 study
areas in the Northeast (Scott 2007) found that the climate change
scenarios consistently projected a trend toward shorter snowmobile
seasons throughout the Northeast and a northward shift in the southern
margin of snowmobiling activity. The majority of the 15 locations
examined in this study were projected to have marginal or non-existent
snowmobile seasons in 2040-2069 under both lower and higher emission
scenarios.
Question 2. Dr. Scott, describe the potential impacts from global
warming without reducing greenhouse gas emission, on the frequency and
intensity of fires and outbreaks of pests as well as water availability
in the forests of the western United States during this century?
Please also describe the potential impacts that these factors could
have on residences, businesses, and public safety, as well as on
resorts and outdoor recreation.
Response. There are a number of studies on these topics done by
experts in each respective field of climate change impact assessment
(wildfires, pests and vegetation disturbance regimes, water resources).
Research results from the USDA Forest Service Pacific Northwest (PNW)
Research Station in 2004 suggest an increased fire risk throughout most
of the region. The combination of drought stress, which weakens trees
to pest disturbance, and improved climatic conditions for certain
insect pests, allowing some to expand their range or have more than one
annual breeding cycle, are anticipated to lead to an increase in large
outbreaks in much of Western United States. The magnitude of the impact
of climate change varies by individual pest species and by region.
Thus, expert sources such as `Climate Change Impacts on the United
States' (2000) and the IPCC 4th Assessment Report--``Impacts,
Adaptation and Vulnerability'' (2007) should be consulted for further
information on specific regions of interest. Increased wildfire and
pest disturbance are anticipated to have negative impact on the
recreation sector through adverse impacts on landscape aesthetics and
in severe cases increased risk to recreation infrastructure and public
safely.
There are also many credible studies of the implications of climate
change for water resources in the Western United States (for summaries
see: `Climate Change Impacts on the United States' 2000 and the IPCC
4th Assessment Report--``Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability'' 2007).
The reduced availability of water resources due to population-economic
growth and climate change are projected to have many impacts for the
recreation sector, including the future viability of some forms of
recreation (e.g., golf course irrigation in desert regions like Las
Vegas). The affects of reduced water resources on recreation can
already be seen in the region. For example, as a result of recent
drought in western states, the Colorado River Outfitters Association
experienced a 40 percent decline in business, with an estimated impact
of $50 million (Associated Press 2002) and water levels in the Lake
Mead, the largest western U.S. reservoir with 10 million visitors
annually, dropped nearly 30-meter since 1999. Each six-metre reduction
in water level costs $6 million for adapting infrastructure (Allen et
al. 2003).
Question 3. Dr. Scott, the Sierra Nevada snowpack provides
California with water storage and winter sports opportunities. The
State of California has said that by 2064 this snowpack could decrease
by up to 47 percent, and by the end of the century it could decrease by
up to 90
What impact would such diminished water supplies have on the
outdoor recreation industry, both winter and summer, particularly with
anticipated drinking water and agricultural water needs?
Response. As studies have indicated, if such declines in the snow
pack were realized the impacts on various sectors of the California
economy would indeed be significant. I will limit my remarks to my area
of expertise, the recreation-tourism sector. The impact of such a
decline in the natural snow pack would have a very negative impact on
the skiing industry. Initially, more snowmaking would be required,
driving up operating costs and prices to consumers. Importantly, as
other sectors will be requiring additional water resources, snowmaking
may not be an option for some ski operators that cannot acquire
adequate water rights. Without snowmaking, many ski areas are likely to
be put out of business under high-emission climate change scenarios for
mid-21st century. The impacts on summer recreation will not be as
dramatic, but some negative impacts are likely where limited water
supplies limit the capacity of recreation use in some high visitation
areas, such as parks, or for activities that require certain water
volumes or temperatures in lakes and streams, such as rafting or
fishing.
Question 4. Dr. Scott, can you describe the potential impacts of
climate change on southern California's summer outdoor recreation
season in the middle and late part of this century if we do not reduce
greenhouse gas emissions?
Response. Very little research has been done on this question and
it remains an important area for future study given the economic
importance of this sector in southern California. Generally speaking
the climate resources for tourism in southern California would
deteriorate under high-emission scenarios as the following figure from
one of my studies suggests (Scott et al. 2004). The decline in the
`tourism climate index' in the Los Angeles area is the result of
increased heat stress in the summer months (see notable decline in
June-July-August-Sept in the British HadCM3 scenario). The decline in
climatic suitability for general tourism activities also suggests the
climatic conditions for many general recreation activities, like
camping, golfing, hiking would decline in the peak summer months as
well due to excessive heat.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T1967.001
Question 5. Dr. Scott, what impact could climate change have on
snowmobilers across the United States, including the Northeast,
Midwest, and western states by the middle and late pan of this century
if we do not reduce greenhouse gas emissions?
Response. A recent study I conducted of snowmobiling seasons in 15
study areas in the Northeast (Scott 2007) found that the climate change
scenarios consistently projected a trend toward shorter snowmobile
seasons throughout the Northeast and a northward shift in the southern
margin of snowmobiling activity. The majority of the 15 locations
examined in this study were projected to have marginal or non-existent
snowmobile seasons in 2040-2069 under both lower and higher emission
scenarios. Consequently, the loss of snowmobiling activity and related
tourism would appear largely unavoidable in the following locations if
the climate change scenarios projected for 2040-2069 were realized:
Western New York, North-central Pennsylvania, Southeast New York,
South-central Pennsylvania, East Pennsylvania, West Massachusetts,
South New Hampshire, and Northeast New York. I have provided further
details about the anticipated regional impacts on these two multi-
billion dollar industries in my written testimony.
No studies specific to the Midwest are available, however a study
of the potential impact of climate change on snowmobiling in southern
Canada found that under the high emission scenario for the 2050s, a
reliable snowmobiling season would be essentially eliminated from
Canada's non-mountainous regions (McBoyle et al. 2007). Given the
Midwest is more southerly in latitude than the study areas in the
Canadian study, the anticipated impacts would be of a similar
magnitude, if not more severe or sooner.
Question 6. Dr. Scott, if we do not reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, what impact could climate change have on New England's fall
tourist season, particularly on recreational opportunities involving
fall foliage?
Response. Climate change is anticipated to negatively impact
tourism associated with the viewing of fall foliage (leaf colors)
(Bloomfield and Hamburg 1997, Union of Concerned Scientists 2007) due
to the northward shift in the range of species with colourful leaves,
such as maple and aspen (see modeling by Iverson and Prasad 1998).
Question 7. Dr. Scott, what impact could climate change have on
bird watching and hunting, including migratory birds, in the middle and
late part of this century if we fail to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions?
Response. The `The Birdwatcher's Guide to Global Warming' (Price
and Glick 2002) outlines the concerns of the bird watching community
about the potential impact of climate change on their recreation. Bird
species can be affected by climatic changes in a number of ways,
including changes in their habitat range, availability of food sources
at certain times of the year, the timing and path of migrations, and
nesting behaviour. Research suggests that climatic changes during the
20th century have already had a discernable impact on bird populations
in North America (Price and Glick 2002) and Europe (Lemoine and
Bohning-Gaese 2002). Climate change in the 21st century is projected to
further impact the distribution and diversity of bird populations in
North America. Price and Root (2001) argue that the number of
neotropical migrant species present in the United States would decline
under projected climate change, with the largest species losses in the
Eastern Midwest (^30 percent), Great Lakes (^29 percent), Mid-Atlantic
(^23 percent), and Southeast (^22 percent) regions. With an estimated
one in every three of North American songbirds born in Canada's boreal
forest Blancher 2002), the projected decline and retreat of the
southern boreal forest due to climate change (Hogg and Hurdle 1995,
Scott et al. 2002) has important implications for songbird populations.
The degradation or loss of critical habitats (particularly key
wetlands) could have a significant impact on birding destinations. The
increased rarity of some species could however generate increased
tourism, as birders travel further in search of these species. There
are also negative impact projected for many duck populations that are
important resources for hunters in the Midwest and elsewhere (LeBlanc
et al. 1991, Wildlife Society 2004).
Question 8. Dr. Scott, what impact of climate change have on the
recreational industry of the Southwestern United States in the middle
and late pan of this century if we do not reduce greenhouse gas
emissions?
Response. There is little research available on the potential
impact of climate change to the recreation sector in this region of the
United States. However, probably the two most important potential
impacts of climate change for the recreation sector will be to increase
temperature extremes and exacerbate existing water supply problems.
Increased temperatures may further restrict participation in certain
recreation activities during parts of the year, due to heat stress
risks and may bring high water users, like golf courses, into conflict
with other water uses. However, further research is needed if we are to
understand the potential magnitude of impacts.
References Cited
Allen, J., 2003: Drought Lowers Lake Mead, NASA. [Accessed
09.02.07: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Study/LakeMead/]
Aspen Global Change Institute (2006). Climate change and Aspen: an
assessment of impacts and potential responses. Aspen, Colarado: Aspen
Global Change Institute.
Associated Press (2002b) Rough year for rafters. The Associated
Press, 3 September 2002.
Bloomfield, J., & Hamburg, S. (1997). Seasons of change: Global
warming and New England's White Mountains. New York, NY: Environmental
Defense Fund.
Casola J, Kay J, Snover A et al (2005) Climate impacts on
Washington's hydropower, water supply, forests, fish and agriculture.
Centre for Science and the Earth System, University of Washington,
Seattle
Hayhoe K., Cayan D., Field C., et al (2004) Emission pathways,
climate change, and impacts on California. Proceedings of the National
Academy of Sciences 101(34): 12422-12427
Hogg, E. and Hurdle, P. 1995. The aspen parkland in western Canada:
a cry-climate analogue for the future boreal forest? Water, Air and
Soil Pollution, 82, 391-400.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007a). Summary for
Policymakers. In: Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis.
Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Solomon, S., D. Qin, M.
Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor and H.L. Miller
(eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New
York, NY, USA.
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (2007b). Climate Change
2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability--summary for policymakers.
Contribution of Working Group 2 to the Fourth Assessment Report of the
IPCC. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New
York, NY, USA.
Iverson L.R. and Prasad A.M. (1998) Predicting abundance of 80 tree
species following climate change in the eastern United States.
Ecological Monographs 68: 465-485.
LeBlanc, A., Dudek, D. & Allegretti, L. (1991). Disappearing ducks:
The effect of climate change on North Dakota's waterfowl. Retrieved
June 6, 2005, from http:// www.environmentaldefense.org/documents/
1337--DisappearingDucks.htm.
Lemoine, N. and Bohning-Gaese, K. (2003) Potential impact of global
climate change on species richness of long-distance migrants.
Conservation Biology, 17, 2, 577-586.
McBoyle, G., Scott, D., and Jones, B. (in press-2007). Climate
change and the future of snowmobiling in non-mountainous regions of
Canada. Managing Leisure.
Price, J. and Root, T. (2001) Climate change and neotropical
migrants. Proceedings of the 66th Annual North American Wildlife and
Natural Resources Conference, 21 March, Washington, DC.
Reuer, M. (2006) Regional challenges of future climate change:
endless summer or business as usual? The 2006 Colorado College State of
the Rockies Report Card. Colorado Springs: Colorado College. 85-103.
Scott (2007) Impacts on Winter Recreation. Confronting Climate
Change in the U.S. Northeast. A Report of the U.S. Northeast Climate
Impacts Assessment. Cambridge, MA: Union of Concerned Scientists. 81-89
Scott, D., Malcolm, J. and Lemieux, C. (2002) Climate change and
modeled biome representation in Canada's national park system:
implications for system planning and park mandates. Global Ecology and
Biogeography, 11(6), 475-485.
Scott, D., McBoyle, G., and Schwartzentruber, M. (2004). Climate
change and the distribution of climatic resources for tourism in North
America. Climate Research, 27(2), 105-117.
Scott, D., Jones, B., Konopek, J. (2007) Implications of climate
and environmental change for nature-based tourism in the Canadian Rocky
Mountains: A case study of Waterton Lakes National Park. Tourism
Management, 28 (2), 570-579
Union of Concerned Scientists (2007) Confronting Climate Change in
the U.S. Northeast. A Report of the U.S. Northeast Climate Impacts
Assessment. Cambridge, MA: Union of Concerned Scientists.
United States National Assessment Team (2000) Climate change
impacts on the United States: the potential consequences of climate
variability and change. U.S. Global Change Research Program. Cambridge
University Press, New York, USA.
Wildlife Society. (2004). Global climate change and wildlife in
North America (Technical Review 04-02). Bethesda, Maryland: The
Wildlife Society.
Senator Boxer. Thank you very much, sir.
Tom Campion, founder of Zumiez, we welcome you.
STATEMENT OF TOM CAMPION, FOUNDER, ZUMIEZ, INC.
Mr. Campion. Chairman Boxer, thank you for inviting me to
come to talk today.
Good morning, Senators. My name is Tom Campion and I am the
founder and chairman of Zumiez, Inc. We are a chain of more
than 250 action sports retail stores located in 24 States. Ten
of these States are represented by members of your Senate
committee, including California, New York, New Jersey,
Minnesota, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Oklahoma.
Over the last 29 years, we have built an incredible
business in serving the teenage surf, skateboard, and snowboard
lifestyles, the action sports market. We are one of the largest
retailers in the United States for snowboard hard goods and
winter-related apparel.
The growth in this segment of retail has contributed to our
having yearly comparable stores sales gains in 28 of our 29
years in existence. We currently employ over 3,000 people in
the United States and expect to grow our employee base by about
20 percent a year. Our long-term success has allowed the
company to go public in 2005 and our business plan includes
expanding to 800 stores nationwide over the next 10 years.
I am here today to speak about the impacts of global
warming on the outdoor recreation industry, which is the winter
component of my action sports business. Enclosed, Senators,
with my written comments, is a list showing over 7,000 retail
store locations in the United States that carry winter-related
outdoor products.
While my comments speak specifically to outdoor recreation
specialty retailers, global warming will affect all clothing
retailers in major parts of the United States. Senators, I have
been in the clothing business for over 37 years. It has been my
experience that weather is the single biggest influence on the
purchase of clothes, larger even, in my 37 years in retail,
than the state of the economy.
Weather is a very powerful motivator. When it gets cold,
you buy a jacket. You purchase gloves and a knit hat. When it
turns warm, you buy a T-shirt and shorts. Without changes in
weather or seasons, customers would shop more sporadically and
respond more to fashion cycles, and often it can be very
disruptive to retailers.
This past winter, we saw unseasonably warm weather in the
Midwest and the Northeast United States, where Zumiez has over
70 stores. This season, the sales of winter apparel and winter-
related hard goods were down dramatically. The lack of sales
resulted in lower employment levels in the region and lower
payment of State sales taxes. The shortened winter season
reduced consumer demand for winter products, and led to the
backing-up of seasonal inventories and the necessity of early
markdowns of these products.
I will give you one small example. Zumiez has 40 stores
between New York and New Jersey. Senator Lautenberg, we have 12
stores currently in New Jersey and plan to add about 12 more in
our business plan. Our comparable store sales just in snow-
related hard goods, (snowboards and bindings and snow-related
soft goods, which would be the jackets, pants, base layers), in
the same stores were over 20 percent less than comparable store
sales the year before. These figures were even more significant
because the drop occurred during the heavily-weighted Christmas
gift-giving season.
But when winter did arrive in late January, our profits
margins by then were seriously eroded because customers expect
in January and on to buy heavily marked-down products this deep
into the season.
Clothing taxes are heavily weighted on the sales in the
fourth quarter of the year, which is Christmas and the bulk of
the winter shopping season. When winters are warmer or come
late, margins erode. Merchandise backs up, employment levels
suffer, and States lose an historic resource for their State
budgets.
Just in New York State alone in the last 2 months of 2005,
Zumiez, with our 28 stores, in the last 2 months paid over
$200,000 in city, county and State sales taxes on our winter-
related hard goods and soft goods. If you consider the over
7,000 retail store locations across the country carrying
winter-related products, you can understand the contribution of
our business sector to the economy, and can imagine the
potential economic effect of warmer winters across the country.
But the economic effects of global warming on retail sales
will go far beyond just the stores that specialize in sales of
outdoor apparel. One example would be the ski resort industry.
The skiing season's length and the quality of downhill skiing
and snowboarding will be strongly affected in the coming years.
Revenues in ski areas will likely decline due to lack of snow,
and some areas such as your Sierra Nevadas, it could be
completely lost to the sport.
Senators for almost 30 years, I built my business based in
large part on supplying the winter needs for my market for
where I am now in the United States. I am really successful at
what I do, enough to grow to 250 stores. I have overcome every
business challenge in the last 30 years. But if I am going to
execute the business plan I have told the public markets, and
grow to 800 stores--and personally our company could add 7,000
employees to the economy of the United States--I need your
help. We need to acknowledge that global warming is here, and
that it is bigger than any one business sector can handle and
deal with on its own. As a country, we need to start dealing
with global warming now.
Thank you very much.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Campion follows:]
Statement of Tom Campion, Founder, Zumiez, Inc.
Good morning. My name is Tom Campion. I'm the founder and chairman
of Zumiez Inc., a chain of more than 250 action sports retail stores
that are located in 24 states. Ten of these states are represented by
members of your Senate committee, including California, New York, New
Jersey, Minnesota, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Oklahoma. Over the last
29 years we have built up an incredible business in serving teenage
surf, skateboard and snowboard lifestyles: the Action Sports market. We
are one of the largest retailers in the United States for snowboard
hard goods and winter-related apparel. The growth in this segment of
retail has contributed to our having yearly comparable store sales
gains for 28 of our 29 years in business. We currently employ over
3,000 people and expect to grow our employee base by 20 percent a year.
Our long-term success allowed the company to go public with a stock
offering in 2005, and our business plan includes expanding to 800
stores nationwide over the next ten years. To learn more about Zumiez,
I would refer you to our public SEC filings.
WEATHER AND CLOTHING PURCHASES
I'm here today to speak to the impacts of global warming on the
outdoor recreation industry, the winter component of my action sports
business. Enclosed with my written comments is a list showing 7,000
retail locations in the United States that carry winter-related outdoor
recreation products.
While my comments speak specifically to outdoor recreation
specialty retailers, global warming will affect all clothing retailers
in major parts of the United States. I've been in the clothing business
for 37 years, and in my experience weather is the single biggest
influence on purchases of clothes--larger even than the health of the
economy. Weather is a very powerful motivator: when it gets cold you
buy a jacket, you purchase gloves, a knit hat, and other items. When
the weather turns warmer you buy a pair of shorts and a T-shirt.
Without changes in weather customers shop more sporadically and in
response to fashion cycles which can be very disruptive.
CLOTHING SALES DOWN DRAMATICALLY LAST WINTER
This past winter saw unseasonably warm weather in the Midwest and
the Northeast United States, where Zumiez has over 70 stores. This
season the sales of winter apparel and winter-related hard goods were
down dramatically. The lack of sales resulted in lower employment
levels in the region, and lower payments for state sales taxes. The
shortened winter season reduced consumer demand for winter products and
led to a backing-up of seasonal inventories and the necessity for early
markdowns of products.
Let me give you one small example from this last winter season:
Zumiez has 40 stores between New York and New Jersey. There was no
snow--or even significant cold weather--until late January 2007. Our
comparable store sales in snow-related hard goods (snowboards,
snowboard boots, bindings, gloves, goggles, and snow accessories) were
down approximately 20 percent from the previous year. Snow-related soft
goods (jackets, pants, base layer, etc.) in the same stores were more
than 20 percent lower in comparables than the same categories company-
wide. These sales figures are even more significant because the drops
occurred during the heavily-weighted Christmas gift-giving season.
Though winter did arrive in late January, our profit margins by then
were eroded because customers expect to buy heavily marked-down
products this deep into the season.
Clothing taxes are heavily weighted on sales in the 4th quarter of
the year, which is Christmas and the bulk of the winter shopping
season. When winters are warmer or come late, margins erode,
merchandise backs up, employment levels suffer and states lose an
historically solid resource for their state budgets.
Just in New York state in the last 2 months of 2006, Zumiez stores
paid over $200,000 in city, county, and state sales taxes on snow-
related hard goods and soft goods. If you then consider that over 7,000
retail store locations carry winter-related products nationwide, you
can understand the contribution of our business sector to the economy,
and can imagine the potential economic effect of warmer winters across
the country.
IMPACTS TO SKI RESORTS
But the economic effects of global warming on retail sales will go
far beyond just the stores that specialize in the sales of outdoor
apparel. It will dramatically affect many retailers of winter sports,
products and business, as well as traditional businesses. One example
is the ski resort industry. The skiing season's length and the quality
of downhill skiing and snowboarding will be strongly affected in the
coming years. Revenues in ski areas will likely decline due to a lack
of snow, and some areas (such as in the Sierra Nevada) may be
completely lost to the sport.
IMPACTS TO SPORTS EQUIPMENT EXPORTS
The trend towards warmer winter weather and the negative effects on
snowfall and accumulation are also being seen in Europe and Asia.
Snowfalls in Europe were down significantly this season, with very
negative effects on the downhill skiing industry. Europe had the
warmest December since records began in 1879. The Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development warned that many low-level resorts
could soon be unviable, and predicted warmer temperatures in the
future. Already, some banks are refusing to offer loans to resorts that
are located at elevations under 5,000 feet (1,500 metres) due to fears
for future snow cover. Germany is threatened the most, followed by some
Austrian and Italian resorts. This in turn had negative economic
consequences for the United States because American manufacturers
export winter sports equipment to Europe and Asia.
IMPACTS TO BUSINESS CYCLES
The negative economic effects of global warming on winter apparel
and sports equipment suppliers would mean fewer jobs in the future in
these businesses. The lower revenues would mean that these businesses
would purchase fewer materials, goods, and support services from other
companies. These direct and indirect effects would result in a decrease
in household income for many families, and would induce additional
negative impacts as these households decrease their purchases from
local businesses. The local economic impacts could be quite severe in
an area that depends heavily on the health of a winter sports resort or
business. Local land values could fall, and government costs and
revenues could be greatly affected.
IMPACTS TO ECOSYSTEMS AND NATURAL PROCESSES
The climate changes that will come to pass from global warming will
ultimately affect the income, wealth, environment, and quality of life
both overall and for particular groups of people. Changing ecosystems
will affect the numbers and distribution of many plants and animals.
Some of these changes will be subtle, but others may be dramatic, as in
the retreat of cold-adapted species and the expansion of the range of
various pests that do not tolerate cold or freezing conditions.
Reductions in snowpack would have very negative consequences in the
Pacific Northwest, where river flows, public water supplies and salmon
habitat are all strongly dependent on the contribution of snowmelt.
Reduced river flows would also affect river sports (boating, fishing,
etc.)
Throughout the West, warmer dryer conditions would increase the
occurrence fires and increase the difficulties of controlling such
fires. Diminished water and higher fire seasons might also lead to more
limited access to summer recreational opportunities and impacts to
camping and hiking equipment and clothing purchases.
______
I've included some additional materials with my comments that
provide some figures on the winter sports industry and business, and
that show the economic contribution of these businesses to all regions
of the United States. A few references are also provided to some of the
literature about global warming and its effects.
Climate change poses a serious challenge to social and economic
development in all countries. I'd like to recommend that the United
States take a positive and leadership role in responding to and
addressing global warming. Ten bills have been introduced in Congress
to initiate this greater response. While the particular mix of measures
varies between the bills, the reduction of CO2 contributions
and the overall reduction of atmospheric CO2 must be our
objectives. The analysis by the World Resources Institute indicate that
at this point, the measures in S. 309, the Sanders-Boxer bill in the
Senate and the corresponding H. 1590 in the House, would best
accomplish these objectives.
Senators, for almost 30 years I've built up my business, based in
large part on supplying the needs of the winter season in the United
States. I've been very successful--enough to expand to 250 stores. I've
overcome every business challenge to date. But if I'm going to execute
my business plan to grow to 800 stores and employ an additional 7,000
people, I need your help. We need to acknowledge that global warming is
here and that it is bigger than any one business sector can handle on
its own. As a country we need to start dealing with global warming now.
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Senator Boxer. Thank you, Mr. Campion, for your very
eloquent testimony, and also just giving us the numbers to back
it up. We appreciate it.
Betty Huskins, chair of the Southeast Tourism Policy
Council. Welcome.
STATEMENT OF BETTY HUSKINS, CHAIR, SOUTHEAST TOURISM POLICY
COUNCIL, ADVANTAGEWEST
Ms. Huskins. Thank you. I appreciate your, Senator Boxer,
inviting me to be here today. I would also like to thank you
for your leadership in this arena.
I come to you today wearing several hats. First of all, I
am the chairman of the Southeast Tourism Policy Council, which
is an arm of the Southeast Tourism Society, which represents
tourism businesses and organizations in 11 southern States, of
which in all of those, tourism is either the first or second
largest industry in those States.
Second, I am the senior vice president for a regional
economic development group in the mountains of North Carolina,
called AdvantageWest. We were established by the North Carolina
General Assembly.
Last, but not least, I come to you as a business owner in
the tourism industry. My husband and I are fortunate enough to
own a lodge and restaurant that his family built in 1937,
adjacent to a 90-foot waterfalls, Linville Falls, and within
walking distance to America's first wilderness area in eastern
America.
So I wear several hats to be able to talk to you about how
it really is affecting things on the ground level. First, I
will tell you a little story. We never get hurricanes in the
mountains of North Carolina. As a rule, that is a coastal issue
that we worry about our friends on the coast. But in 2005, due
to the flooding, we received 19 inches of rain in 24 hours. The
Blue Ridge Parkway was washed away in five different locations,
and it was closed for almost 2 years to make those repairs.
So it was very difficult as a small business owner to be
able to live through that, and be able to hold onto your
business. We were fortunate enough to do that, but many of our
friends were not, so a lot of businesses were closed in North
Carolina.
At Southeast Tourism Society, we are very concerned about
the tourism product. We have been so concerned about it that in
2004 we held our first Federal Summit in Louisville, KY. We
brought together the private sector tourism people. We brought
together the Federal land managers for the Federal lands in the
Southeast, and we spent 3 days discussing ways that we could
collaborate and work better together.
I am proud to tell you that that summit resulted in a
memorandum of understanding between us and 12 Federal agencies,
to have that discussion. We continue to do that on a regular
basis. We are meeting quarterly with our Federal partners.
Now, in North Carolina, my home where I work and live, we
boast two of the most visited parks in the Nation: the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway. It
contributes about $7.5 billion annually to our economy, and
Senator Sanders, it provides about 95,000 jobs in our State. It
consistently ranks at the top of the reasons of why people come
to the State of North Carolina.
My personal experience as an economic developer I would
like to share with you. As you know, North Carolina led the
Nation in the loss of manufacturing jobs 2 years in a row. Most
of that was in furniture and textiles, and I am glad to say
that we are back. We are coming back with a strong economy now.
In my region, the natural resources and an asset-based economic
development strategy has sustained us during that time that we
were losing all those manufacturing jobs. We have been able to
hold on to our quality of life.
It is interesting to me now to see that we are working with
entrepreneurs that are coming there because we have created
skills from that furniture industry as boat builders. The boat
building companies are coming to North Carolina. We have
announced three of those in the last year. They are looking for
those skills that we had in the furniture industry.
We are working with entrepreneurs that are building the
better bicycles, doing innovative products with kayaks, and
also one company that is doing what we would call a high end
tailgating product that they are putting out on the market
right now.
So all of those things are related to outdoor recreation,
and they are critically important to those communities that I
work with that are gateway communities next to Federal and
public lands. So this industry, along with technology and
advanced manufacturing, is helping us create a new economy and
a strong quality of life, and it is critically important to us.
Now having said all that, we believe that probably the most
important aspect is that Americans really need the outdoors.
Their health probably depends on it. I know I am preaching to
the choir because I have heard all of you speak today. I don't
know if you have read ``The Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our
Children from Nature Deficit Disorder.'' You probably all have.
But if you haven't, I would say that you might be shocked to
hear quotes like, ``I like to play indoors because that is
where all the electrical outlets are.'' You also might find it
shocking to know that a survey taken in 2002 by the Science
Journal found that more children knew the characters in the
Pokemon game than could identify an otter, a beetle, or an oak
tree. That is pretty amazing.
But we believe that the knowledge of nature is the best
weapon for our young people to learn about stewardship of
Mother Earth. So we need families traveling together to
national parks, camping, fishing, exploring nature. We really
cannot simulate that experience inside the home.
So in conclusion, let me say like it or not, change is a
part of life, and we know that the environmental change in
global warming has the potential to profoundly affect us both
economically and personally. At the Southeast Tourism Society,
we stand ready to collaborate with you and our Federal partners
to develop ways that we can blunt the impact of environmental
change, and protect our natural resources. We believe we have
to all work together and make the hard decisions and take
personal responsibility.
Thank you very much.
[The prepared statement of Ms. Huskins follows:]
Statement of Betty Huskins, Chair, Southeast Tourism
Policy Council, AdvantageWest
INTRODUCTION
Good morning! Thank you Madam Chairman for inviting me to testify
before this esteemed body. I come to you wearing several hats. First, I
am representing the Southeast Tourism Policy Council, an arm of the
Southeast Tourism Society which is a non-profit, 501(c)6, membership
organization that covers 11 Southern States. The organization is
dedicated to the development of industry organizations & professionals
and the promotion of tourism within and to STS member states by sharing
resources, fostering cooperation, networking, providing continuing
education, cooperative marketing, consumer outreach, advice &
consultation, governmental affairs and other programs. Membership
includes State Travel Offices, Convention & Visitors' Bureaus & other
Destination Marketing Organizations, attractions, advertising, lodging,
media, educational institutions, product suppliers, travel writers and
other related industry segments.
Second, I come to you as the Senior Vice President of a regional
economic development organization, AdvantageWest Economic Development
Group, created by the North Carolina General Assembly to serve twenty
three mountain counties in North Carolina. I work in rural, gateway
communities every day as part of my job.
Last, but not least I am a small business owner. My husband and I
own and operate The Linville Falls Lodge adjacent to the first
wilderness area in Eastern America, the Linville Gorge and less than a
mile off the Blue Ridge Parkway, America's most visited Scenic Highway.
Our business has been in his family since 1937.
STS appreciates your invitation to appear before the Environmental
and Public Works Committee to discuss the issue of the potential
impacts of global warming on recreation and the recreation industry and
I want to thank you for your service in this body. It is no simple task
to assume the responsibility of debating public policy regarding global
warming and it affects on our society and the generations that come
after us. As a tourism professional, I have witnessed the impact
environmental changes are having on the travel and tourism industry as
a whole. The Blue Ridge Parkway was closed almost 2 years after the
flooding caused by the hurricanes of 2005. We were fortunate to weather
that disaster at our small business. However, many of our friends were
not so fortunate.
The tourism industry knows that fundamental policy issues must be
addressed in order to sustain many of the very products, such as our
publicly owned lands to remain appealing and available for future
generations.
As tourism professionals, we recognize the impact environmental
changes are having on the travel and tourism industry as a whole. In
fact, in 2004 STS brought together private sector tourism marketers and
public sector federal land managers to find common ground on ways that
our natural, historical and cultural treasures could be preserved for
future generations. As such, it represented a milestone in the changing
tourism environment. The summit proposed to explore the magnitude of
the travel and tourism industry and to develop a better understanding
of the economic and social roles played by public land managing
agencies at the Federal and State levels. Such a Summit was long
overdue, and it was essential that the private tourism industry and
public lands agencies engage one another in positive dialogue and
comprehensive strategies to develop, market, and use public lands in
sustainable ways that will not impair resource values.
The policies that guide the operation of the tourism industry and
the policies that guide the use and development of public lands deserve
thoughtful attention and the travel and tourism industry in the
southeast is aggressively pursuing public private partnerships to
insure protection of our treasured natural, cultural and historical
resources for future generations.
Fundamental policy issues must be addressed in order for the
tourism industry to sustain itself and for our publicly owned lands to
remain appealing and available for future generations. Tourism is
hugely important to our region's economy and to our quality of life. We
recognize the need to address environmental change and degradation on
our industry's future ability to provide economic stimulus to so many
of our rural communities.
As recreationists, we understand our environmental responsibility
to be stewards of the treasured resources in our region. In fact,
recreationists were at the vanguard of calling for environmental
legislation in the 60's and '70s, which is the primary rationale behind
many of the regulatory goals that are framed in ``fishable and
swimmable waters'' and Class 1 viewsheds in national parks. Protecting
both the recognition of tourism as a vital component of federal land
management policies and our natural resources is why we favor, common
sense proposals to balance the needs of tourists and the environment,
for example, lowered emissions from our cars and trucks and other
recreational products.
That said, Americans love the outdoors and benefit from time in the
outdoors--both the magnificence of significant parklands like the Great
Smokies and small wonders like urban green space--and we can't take
actions which shut people up in their homes, unable to enjoy and
benefit from the public lands and waters that are their birthright.
There is nothing wrong with driving to the beach, a national park
or a ski area. And there is nothing wrong with camping and boating and
riding horses and ATVs--activities that require an ability to carry and
tow sizeable items. As we encourage changes to reduce emissions, let's
not create other problems--including health problems or crises for
rural communities dependent on recreation and tourism.
In our smaller rural settings and gateway communities, recreation
is the primary economic generator.
In fact, the recreation economy:
Contributes $730 billion annually to the U.S. economy
Supports nearly 6.5 million jobs across the United States
Generates $88 billion in annual state and national tax
revenue
Provides sustainable growth in rural communities
Generates $289 billion annually in retail sales and
services across the United States
Touches over 8 percent of America's personal consumption
expenditures--more than 1 in every $12 circulating in the economy
In my home state of North Carolina, spectacular recreation sites,
from Mt. Mitchell to the Outer Banks, bring tourism dollars from out-
of-state outdoor recreation participants. In the small village of
Linville falls where I live and operate a business, we depend on it for
our livelihood. In North Carolina alone, outdoor recreation contributes
more than $7.5 billion annually to North Carolina's economy and
supports 95,000 jobs across the state. The bottom line for us is
simple. Outdoor recreation creates sustainable long-term economic
growth and community development for many small businesses.
I would like to share another perspective with you regarding the
economic importance of outdoor recreation I have seen recently in the
mountains of North Carolina. As you know, North Carolina led the nation
for two years in the loss of manufacturing jobs. Those jobs were
primarily in textiles and furniture. We have been on a long road of
recovery. However, the mountain region in particular, has sustained
itself because of their bountiful natural resources and our people's
ability to focus on an asset-based economic development strategy. It
has been interesting to see the boat manufacturers moving to our region
to fill the gap created by the loss of furniture manufacturers. They
have come for many reasons, but certainly the skills of fine furniture
makers in our labor force have been very instrumental in luring them to
North Carolina. In addition, we at AdvantageWest find ourselves now
working with entrepreneurs manufacturing new bicycle products, better
kayaks, innovative campers, and high-end tailgating equipment. All of
these products focused on the great outdoors.
Outdoor recreation is vital to the local economies of rural
America. White House recognition of tourism as an important tool in
rural economic development came on January 22, 1990, when the President
ordered implementation of the Report on Rural Economic Development for
the 90s. This report explains that opportunities for economic
development for rural America will be found primarily in off-farm
employment opportunities, especially in industries such as tourism,
retirement living, and commercial recreation, which all serve to bring
additional income to rural communities. In remarks on October 28, 1991,
the President state: ``More and more rural communities are making
tourism a part of the economic development option for the nineties. And
the U.S. Travel and Tourism Administration, along with other government
agencies, is working to put small-town America on the tourist map. As
part of that initiative, federal agencies will provide leadership for
educational outreach programs in rural tourism development.''
But outdoor recreation encompasses far more than economic
development. Perhaps one of the most significant observations with
regards to the benefits of outdoor recreation is the important role it
can play in improving the overall health of Americans. There is a
profound connection with outdoor recreation to a healthy lifestyle.
Obesity has been declared epidemic. Connecting the benefits of outdoor
recreation and the positive effects it can have on obesity offers a
possible solution for this crisis affecting so many Americans.
Now, more than ever, we need to be promoting outdoor recreation and
its benefits, particularly to our youth. There is growing evidence that
today's children are gravitating away from outdoor experiences and
towards a virtual indoor reality. This disconnect from nature has
serious long-term implications for the cognitive, physical, social and
emotional well-being our nation's children. Richard Louv's recent book
``Last Child in the Woods--Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit
Disorder'' analyzes the societal problems that have arisen in the last
generation of youth, who have lost contact with nature. Louv quoted a
fifth-grader who claimed, ``I like to play indoors better cause that's
where all the electrical outlets are.''
We must find smarter solutions to the global warming issues, but we
cannot replace the value of a family spending time together in their RV
in a national park, or a grandparent's right to pull the family boat to
the lake to teach their grandchildren the excitement of catching a
fish. We cannot simulate those priceless experiences through video
games from inside our homes without becoming unhealthy and uninspired.
Kids need to know about nature. It nurtures, educates and instills
them with a sense of stewardship for the environment. A survey reported
in 2002 in The Journal of Science found that more children knew the
characters in the electronic game Pokemon than could identify an otter,
beetle or oak tree. Nationwide, the science literacy of citizens--both
young and old--has eroded. The implications of this oversight represent
the most critical global challenge, one that our country cannot afford
to overlook. The promotion of outdoor recreation offers a significant
alternative approach towards educating our young people about the
importance of stewardship.
Knowledge of nature is their best weapon if young people are to
ultimately make good decisions about personal health, climate change
and land-use management. They need to touch flowers and know why some
plants cannot survive without insect pollinators, to walk in a forest
and understand how many millions of years were required to create
petroleum from dead plants.
So important is this issue that the American Recreation Coalition
and the National Forest Foundation convened a series of Recreation
Forums in earlier this year designed to provide organizations and
individual's opportunities to:
identify unmet needs and challenges facing recreation on
public lands; and
provide examples of successful and innovative efforts to
provide the nation with outstanding outdoor recreation experiences on
public lands, and especially national forests; and
express ideas and offer suggestions for enhancing the
ability of public lands to meet the recreation needs of--and the
resulting benefits to--the American public.
CONCLUDING REMARKS
Like it or not, inevitably change is a part of life. As we grapple
with changes to our environment, changes in our economy, and changes to
the way our children play and learn, we must recognize the critical
role that tourism plays in addressing each of these challenges. The
impact of environmental change and global warming has the potential to
profoundly affect our businesses and our communities. Recognizing this
is why the tourism industry has already begun to reach out to our
federal partners to collaborate on ways we can blunt the impact of
environmental change and protect our natural resources of decades to
come.
Through the STPC and a memorandum of understanding with 12 federal
agencies, we have already begun to partner with the federal management,
we stand ready to work with Congress to identify and implement policies
that will ensure our environment, our communities, and our economy are
not only protected, but thrive.
In conclusion, we believe we must all work together, across party
lines and across economic and environmental barriers to do the right
thing for us, our children and our grandchildren. We must make the hard
decisions. However, as you move forward developing national policies in
this regard we would urge you to keep the delicate balance we have
discussed today in the forefront so as not to have ``unintended
consequences'' that develop from over-reaching federal regulations.
Senator Boxer. Thank you, Ms. Huskins, for that message of
unity, which we welcome in this committee.
Mr. Watson, the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers.
STATEMENT OF BRYANT M. WATSON, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, VERMONT
ASSOCIATION OF SNOW TRAVELERS, INC.
Mr. Watson. Madam Chairman, distinguished members of this
committee, it is a great honor and pleasure to be here today. I
do represent the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, more
commonly referred to as VAST. The Vermont Association of Snow
Travelers was established in 1967, therefore we are in our 40th
year, 40 years old. We are very proud of that. We have grown
from a single club in 1967 to 140 clubs today.
In 1970, the State of Vermont started operating what they
called the Statewide Snowmobile Trails Program, or SSTP. They
operated this program through 1977. Then in 1977, they decided
that they didn't want to be in the snowmobile trail business,
and put out an RFP for businesses and/or organizations to
respond to and come up with a proposal to operate the Statewide
Snowmobile Trails Program for them. VAST did this, and in 1977
we took over the responsibility for the Statewide Snowmobile
Trails System in Vermont.
At that time, there was a total of 77 miles of snowmobile
trails in the State of Vermont. Today, we have 4,750 miles of
groomed corridor trails, and in what we classify as secondary
trails, we have an additional 2,500 miles of trails. These
trails run from the Massachusetts border in the south to the
Canadian border in the north, and from the New Hampshire border
in the east to the New York border in the west, and everywhere
in between. We are the only true statewide snowmobile trail
system in that regard.
Vermont is a Mecca for outdoor recreation, especially
winter recreation--downhill skiing, cross country skiing,
dogsledding, ice fishing, hunting, and of course, my favorite
sport, snowmobiling. Snowmobiling, in Vermont, is a way of
life, and as many as 46,000 participants snowmobile on an
annual basis and take advantage of our trail system.
As many as 20,000 of those who recreate in Vermont are non-
residents. They come to us from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New
York, Maine, and many of the States throughout the area. These
people not only bring with them lots of money when they come to
Vermont to visit, but a lot of them buy second homes, and a lot
of them buy homes and become residents of the State of Vermont
and run their businesses from them, because of the quality of
life that we provide within the State of Vermont.
These snowmobilers, up to 46,000 of them, based on a 2001
economic impact study that we completed, provide a $500 million
a year economic impact for the State of Vermont. Recreation in
general brings in $2.5 billion to the State of Vermont's
economy on an annual basis.
I fear for that impact on winter recreation. The winters of
late have come very late. We normally would see snow in
December, espeically in early January and throughout January,
which normally would be our coldest month. That has not taken
place in the last half decade. We are seeing more and more rain
in December, rain in January, very warm temperatures, and then
in February we get our very cold weather. So when you look at
the winter recreation time period, basically 4 months,
December, January, February and March, we are cutting that time
period in half when we can bring in this $2.5 billion for
recreation.
It is a very serious problem. Because of that, a lot of
people are not continuing to snowmobile. They are saying, well,
it is really not worth it this year, so I am not going to
register my snowmobile. I am not going to buy my trail pass. I
am not going to go out there because I only have a couple of
weeks or 6 weeks at the most to be able to enjoy the sport.
It is not only Vermont where we see this happening.
Snowmobiling is a $21 billion a year industry across the United
States. We see this happening in Minnesota. We see it happening
in Wisconsin and Michigan, New York, New Hampshire, Maine, any
of the States that have snowmobile trail systems. They are
seeing the same types of winter events.
We are also finding that the events that we have over the
last couple of years, especially in February. These February
snowstorms have had have been large Nor'easters. They have come
in and they have dumped a lot of snow, but they have also done
a lot of damage, that has created millions of dollars of
damage, especially to forest lands. It has decimated a lot of
our softwood forests and maple forests in the State of Vermont.
So there are in fact economic impacts created by climate
change. Job losses, dealerships with the State of Vermont are
giving up their dealerships because of falling sales. The sales
are down because of the short winters. People are not buying
the new snowmobiles. The mom and pop stores, the hotels, the
motels, the restaurants and many more, especially in the
Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, where snowmobiling is the only
form of winter recreation that brings in millions of dollars a
year to those businesses in the northeast.
So we really need to look at climate change. I commend
Senator Sanders and those of you who have signed on and
introduced S. 309. This bill amends the existing Clean Air Act
and would establish new benchmarks to help control the effects
of global warming. Our Nation needs to become energy self-
sufficient. We must immediately start working toward that goal
and give incentives to those who would develop clean energy
supplies, such as E-85 ethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen fuel cell
technology, solar, wind, tidal current energy, renewable wood
energy, and for my part, after spending 7 years of my life as
the manager of Member Services for Vermont Electric
Cooperative, I believe we need to pursue nuclear energy as
well.
If the United States does not have an energy supply that is
cheap, plentiful and clean, we will continue to lose industry
and jobs to countries that have an abundant supply of energy to
fuel their commerce and industry.
Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Watson follows:]
Statement of Bryant M. Watson, Executive Director, Vermont Association
of Snow Travelers, Inc.
Good morning Senators, my name is Bryant Watson and I am the
Executive Director of the Vermont Association of Snow Travelers, Inc.
(VAST), located in Berlin, Vermont. It is indeed a pleasure, privilege,
and honor to come before you today to address the issue of ``Climate
Change and its Impact on Recreation.''
Vermont is a Mecca for winter recreation: downhill skiing; cross
country skiing; dog sledding; ice fishing; hunting and of course I
can't forget my favorite recreation, snowmobiling.
There are 24 states, throughout the United States, that operate
snowmobile trail programs. VAST is very unique; it is the only private
not-for-profit organization, in the United States that is charged with
the development, management, and maintenance of its state snowmobile
trail system. In the remaining 23 states, state agencies are
responsible for the development and maintenance of their snowmobile
trail programs.
VAST was established in November of 1967. We will celebrate our
40th anniversary this fall. In 1977 VAST entered into a cooperative
agreement with the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources, Department of
Forests, Parks and Recreation. This agreement transferred
responsibility for Vermont's Statewide Snowmobile Trail Program (SSTP)
to VAST. At the time the agreement was signed there were only 77-miles
of snowmobile trails that were classified as a part of the Statewide
Snowmobile Trail System (SSTS). Today, the SSTS consists of more than
4,750-miles of groomed corridor snowmobile trails. Local clubs and
contractors groom and maintain these trails under contract on behalf of
VAST. An additional 2,500-miles of secondary snowmobile trails exist,
and local snowmobile clubs maintain these trails. This system of
snowmobile trails allows Vermont snowmobilers to snowmobile from the
Massachusetts border in the south to the Canadian border in the north.
It also allows them to snowmobile from the New Hampshire border in the
east, to the New York border in the west. This makes the Vermont SSTS
the only true statewide snowmobile trail system in the nation.
Snowmobiling is a way of life in Vermont. Each year as many as
46,000 individuals take to the snowmobile trail system in Vermont. Many
of these snowmobilers come to Vermont from other states and countries,
and some years as many as 20,000. They not only spend great amounts of
money while they are in Vermont, but many of them buy second homes and/
or move their formal residence to Vermont due to snowmobiling and
Vermont's quality of life.
The latest economic impact study, conducted in 2001, indicates that
snowmobiling contributes more than $500,000,000 annually to Vermont's
economy, second only to downhill skiing in the category of winter
recreation. Vermont is a very small state and it relies on recreation
and tourism to fuel a major portion of its economic engine. Recreation
as a whole contributes more than $2,500,000,000 to Vermont's economy,
annually. However, the time frame in which these funds can be generated
is very short; especially, the time frame for winter recreation.
The legal snowmobile season in Vermont starts on December 16 and
the official ending date is April 15. In 4 short months, VAST generates
more than $500,000,000 for Vermont's economy. In recent years this has
become a great challenge. Winter has not arrived in Vermont at its
normal time! When we should be seeing lots of snow and temperatures
well below freezing, we have seen rain and temperatures above freezing.
It takes plenty of snow and cold weather to enable the opening of
Vermont's SSTS and the ski trails at Vermont's ski areas, that offer
superb downhill skiing to tens of thousands of visitors each year. Much
of the income generated from snowmobiling and downhill skiing is
created during holiday periods. Christmas and New Years are very
important, as are the weeks surrounding Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birth
date; President's Day and St. Patrick's Day; Easter is a bonus for both
forms of recreation. We must be able to offer snowmobiling and downhill
skiing during the above periods. If we cannot, the season is normally
lost and the state's economy feels the pinch.
This past winter is a perfect example. December and the first half
of January were well above normal, both in temperature as well as
precipitation in the form of rain. The second half of January was cold,
but we did not have much or any natural snow in most locations in
Vermont. The first part of February delivered normal temperatures, but
not much snow. Then came the ``Valentine's Day Blizzard!'' It delivered
more than 36-inches of snow statewide and finally allowed for all of
the SSTS to open. Prior to that time, only ten percent of the SSTS had
been open. Then came another blizzard on St. Patrick's Day; this storm
left more than 24-inches of snow over most of Vermont. The day before
the close of the season, April 14, much of the state got more than 18-
inches of wet, heavy snow.
An observation that I have made is that winter storms now seem to
come later in the season and they are much more intense than in the
past. Several of this year's storms were strong Nor-easters and created
losses for many private and public landowners, hundreds of acres of
forestland were devastated by the heavy snow and strong northeast
winds, causing millions of dollars of damage.
Based on the above, both the snowmobile industry and the downhill
ski industry missed the first half of winter and have suffered
significant financial losses. VAST must generate between four and five
million dollars in revenue in order to have a successful snowmobile
season. The majority of income supporting the SSTS is derived from the
sale of trail passes. These trail passes are similar to season or day
ski passes that are purchased and allow the buyer to use downhill ski
areas. The VAST trail pass enables Vermont snowmobilers to legally ride
Vermont's SSTS. The sale of trail passes were down nearly 40 percent
this last winter. This leaves VAST with a huge dilemma, how do we cope
with the changing climate and survive for the future?
One way that VAST is currently pursuing the future is with the
development and management of four-season recreational trails; this is
being accomplished with the assistance of Senator Sanders and the
United States Congress. VAST is in the process of converting an old
abandoned 96-mile long rail bed into a four-season recreational trail.
Senator Sanders was instrumental in working with VAST and Congress to
obtain a federal high priority grant for this project. VAST has been
designated, by the Vermont Legislature, as the Developer and Manager of
this project. We have signed a long-term lease with the Vermont Agency
of Transportation for the use of this state owned treasure. The trail,
when completed, will become one of the longest rail trails in the
nation and it will span the width of Vermont, starting in the east near
the Connecticut River in St. Johnsbury and ending in Swanton to the
west, at Lake Champlain. Currently, we are developing the final plans
that will allow this dream to become a reality. Once completed, the
trail will draw thousands annually to Vermont, throughout the four
seasons; the trail will enable them to enjoy the majestic, pastoral
beauty that is Vermont.
Thank you for this opportunity.
Senator Boxer. Thank you very much, sir.
Our next speak is Derrick Crandall, president of the
American Recreation Coalition. Welcome, sir.
STATEMENT OF DERRICK A. CRANDALL, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN
RECREATION COALITION
Mr. Crandall. Thank you, Madam Chairman. I have to say that
the members of this committee have made my job very easy. The
first four pages of my testimony said less well than you said
the importance of recreation in America today. I certainly
relate to each one of the members here. As a member of a family
that was rooted in Ashaway, RI, that took Zane Grey out fishing
with line and twine years ago, as a brother-in-law of the
person that runs Greenland Geographics and does a lot of remote
sensing, and as the husband of a graduate of UVM, and as
somebody born in New Jersey and spent a lot of time enjoying
the outdoors of New Jersey, I am delighted to hear the
testimony that you have given to the importance of recreation
in America.
I would like to simply say that recreationists have been at
the vanguard of environmental protection for generations. In
fact, during my days up in New Hampshire with acid rain in the
1960s and 1970s, the recreation community took the lead in
talking about the impact on the forests, on the fishing, and
the other kinds of things, and helped to bring about a
recognition of the importance of limiting the emissions of
Midwest and other electrical generation centers that were
causing a decline in the fisheries of the Nation.
It is for that reason that the recreation community can and
should continue to be a leader in responding to the challenges
that you are now addressing with global climate change.
There certainly are scientific reasons to argue about what
the specifics are, but the urgency of acting is certainly
clear. There is no reason to delay until all the facts are
there. I am proud to say that the recreation industry continues
to be a leader.
I would like to simply outline a couple of the things that
are being done. One of the areas that we are especially proud
of is within the national parks of this Nation, an especially
important area. Concessioners like Xanterra are leading the way
with an ability to keep out of the trash area 5 million pounds
every year through recycling and reuse, through even taking the
grease from the restaurants and recycling that into biodiesel
and using that in buses, and finding alternative ways to move
people within our parks, tremendous successes.
That is not the only example. Concessioners are leading the
way. In fact, fixed recreation sites are asking today: can we,
should we, and will we do more? The answer is absolutely yes.
We need to find those ways. We need to find the right
solutions, and the recreation industry intends to be a leader
in all this.
I would also like to compliment, and I know we have
somebody here who knows a lot about the X-Games. I just want to
talk about the importance of what the Walt Disney Company has
done. Of course, Walt Disney owns ESPN, and through the
Environmentality Program has brought a revolutionary new kind
of perspective to look at how the impact of the X-Games can be
modified through use of green power and a variety of other
kinds of ways. They are still fun. They are still great, but in
fact now the environmental impact of the X-Games has been
modified directly.
So I come to you today with both a message of hope and
opportunity, and also just some concerns that we need to
express. Betty Huskins mentioned the work of Richard Louv, the
author of ``Last Child in the Woods.'' He has been here in
Washington on Monday and Tuesday. I am sorry that the Senator
from Minnesota isn't here. I was with her colleague, the
wonderful gentleman who represents the Eighth District of
Minnesota, Jim Oberstar, the leader of our Scenic Byways
Program.
Incidentally, I would like to compliment this committee.
You have been leaders in the National Scenic Byways Program,
and in fact you are helping because by slowing down the travels
in this Nation, the travels are more efficient. A car moving at
40 to 50 miles an hour on a scenic byway, you see more, but you
are also getting more miles to the gallon, and that contributes
in its own way.
But I guess the point is that Richard Louv was addressing
the scenic byways community up in Baltimore, and then came down
and was paired with an announcement of More Kids in the Woods,
a grant program that the Forest Service has just kicked off. He
talks about bookend issues, global climate change, and the
decrease in outdoor participation by America's youth. Both are
issues we need to take action on immediately.
The fact of the matter is that America's youth need to know
intimately the kinds of experiences that we have shared in the
outdoors to have a passionate commitment to environmental
protection. I think we can and we should be doing that.
As we turn to where we can go in terms of responding to
greenhouse gas emissions, there are two areas. The first is
fixed sites where people go to recreate. About 75 percent of
recreation occurs at and along the Nation's largest waters--our
ocean fronts, the major lakes, the major rivers. Those areas
need to be leaders in terms of demonstrating commitments to
both innovative ways to reduce consumption of energy and other
kinds of things, and also looking to ensure continued emphasis
on clean water.
We are also looking at other ways that we can assist.
Throughout this country, from major metropolitan areas from
Washington to Denver to other areas, we see an exodus of people
towing recreation items, whether those are snowmobiles or RVs
or boats every weekend. We are working now with the Federal
land managers to look at if we can't find better ways to store
those recreational items closer to where people use them, and
reduce the unnecessary use of energy as those vehicles are
towed back and forth from where you live to where you play. We
can do more in that.
We also believe that there is an opportunity to look at
alternative ways to access our national parks and national
forests. Very few areas of this country are served well by
public transportation to be able to access that.
However, we do want to make sure that in our needed actions
to address global climate change, that we don't kill the goose
that lays the golden egg. We don't want to discourage healthy,
active lives and the travel to see special places like national
parks that unify all Americans and create those marvelous
family memories. We need to remember that any fuel efficient
SUV or even a motorhome gets more passenger miles per gallon
than even the most efficient car with a solo driver. We need to
not discourage the use of vehicles that are essential to towing
and hauling the recreational products that are essential to
active lifestyles.
Thank you very much.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Crandall follows:]
Statement of Derrick A. Crandall, President,
American Recreation Coalition
Madame Chair and Distinguished Members, the American Recreation
Coalition (ARC) appreciates the opportunity to appear before this body
today to discuss an extraordinarily important issue: the potential
consequences of global climate change on recreation and the recreation
industry.
I am Derrick Crandall and I am appearing on behalf of the members
of the American Recreation Coalition (ARC)--more than 100 national
organizations, representing virtually every segment of the nation's
$400 billion outdoor recreation industry, and tens of millions of
outdoor recreation enthusiasts.
Our organization has played an active role in federal recreation
policy since its creation in 1979. We were centrally involved in the
creation and operations of the President's Commission on Americans
Outdoors in the mid-1980's and the National Recreation Lakes Study
Commission, which submitted its report in 1999 to the Congress and the
President. Both spoke directly to the topic before this body today. We
also were actively involved in the creation of the National Recreation
Fee Demonstration Program and have enjoyed opportunities to work
closely with this committee on such diverse programs as the National
Scenic Byways Program, the Recreational Trails Program, the Wallop-
Breaux program aiding fishing and boating, and programs to provide
access to and safe transit across our public lands. We thank the
Chairman and members of this body for the continuing interest shown in
these important issues.
Outdoor recreation is a vital and positive force in our nation
today. Nine in ten Americans participate in outdoor recreation today,
and a major catalyst for this involvement is the marvelous shared
legacy of our Great Outdoors--one in three acres of the surface of the
nation managed by federal agencies and hosting well in excess of a
billion recreation visits annually. ARC monitors participation in
outdoor recreation closely through annual national surveys. A summary
sheet on participation is attached.
The benefits accruing from recreation participation are
significant, and the appreciation for these benefits is growing. The
economic significance of outdoor recreation is obvious in communities
across the nation, and especially those communities proximate to
federally-managed lands and waters. From boat dealers to campground
operators, from RV manufacturers to ski rental shops, from retailers
selling outdoors goods to guides and outfitters, tens of thousands of
businesses and millions of Americans are supported by $400 billion in
annual expenditures on recreation by American families. And
increasingly, America's recreational opportunities are a key factor in
luring international visitors to enjoy the world's best systems of
parks and forests, refuges and other public sites. It is especially
noteworthy that two major segments of the recreation industry--RV and
recreational boats--are solid US manufacturing businesses employing
tens of thousands of skilled workers.
But the public recognizes that recreation contributes far more
significantly to our nation in ways beyond jobs. Recreation is
understood as a valuable means to encourage the physical activity we
need to maintain our health. With two in three Americans failing to get
the minimum level of physical activity recommended by the Surgeon
General--just 30 minutes daily of moderate movement like walking--and
obesity now responsible for medical costs greater than those linked to
tobacco, opportunities to combine exercise with fun are an obvious
priority. Studies now document that increasing recreation participation
can be among the most cost effective strategies for reducing public
health costs.
And the benefits arising from recreation don't stop there.
Recreation can be a very effective means for increasing parent-child
communications as well as a tool to deter violent crime and substance
abuse. Outdoor settings and recreational activities have proven
valuable as alternative educational programs, especially for disruptive
youth and those with learning styles poorly suited to traditional
classrooms. Earlier this week, a California author and journalist,
Richard Louv, was in town to speak to two very important audiences: the
National Scenic Byways Conference and a large gathering at the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. Louv's book, Last Child in the Woods, has
added to our lexicon with a new term: Nature Deficit Disorder. And he
presents credible evidence that nature-robbed kids are much more prone
to Attention Deficit Disorder and prescribed medicines like Ridalin
with uncertain long-term consequences. Concerns expressed by Louv and
others have motivated the recreation community to pursue strategies
like the California Children's Outdoor Bill of Rights--which expressed
a commitment to helping all children splash in clean water and hike
through healthy forests (details appended).
RECREATION AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
The recreation community has been a solid and active proponent of
environmental protection for decades. Recreationists understandably
care about waters that are too polluted to use for swimming and
boating, and about national park vistas impaired by pollutants. This is
why recreationists were leaders in arguing for action on acid rain in
the 1960's. It is why recreationists and the recreation industry today
support education and communications programs championing responsible
use of the outdoors--programs like Leave No Trace and Tread Lightly! It
is why national park concessioners have an incredible track record of
initiatives to serve park visitors well while operating in an
environmentally-friendly way.
One of the leading park concessioners is Xanterra. Xanterra uses
renewable wind power and on-site large-scale renewable solar
photovoltaic systems to reduce in-park air emissions and greenhouse gas
emissions. Each year, Xanterra recycles, composts, and diverts from the
local park landfill more than five million pounds of solid waste.
Xanterra also recycles grease on-site into biodiesel for use in fleet
vehicles and boilers, and uses hybrid vehicles, countless electric
vehicles, and numerous alternative fuel vehicles throughout all of its
operations.
Other concessioners are making similar strides. Buses now help
visitors enjoy Yosemite Valley without reliance on personal vehicles--
and the buses are powered by alternative fuels to reduce emissions.
Boat fleets rented at Lake Mead by Forever Resorts use new-technology
engines, again dramatically reducing emissions.
Other recreation companies are taking initiatives, as well. The
Walt Disney Company has adopted a far-ranging strategy labeled Eco-
Action Through Action Sports. Key to the effort is the X Games
Environmentality'' (XGE) Mission. Disney has committed its ESPN X Games
to environmental stewardship in all facets of event planning, from
waste reduction to recycling, from use of environmentally friendly
products to use of renewable resources and reducing emissions through
``green power'' use at the X Games events. It further uses the ESPN X
Games to encourage employees and spectators alike to proactively
support its Environmentality creed.
RECREATION AND GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE
The recreation community is concerned about the potential of global
climate change on recreation opportunities. Fears of an inability to
provide skiers with snow, or the danger of coastal erosion and more
violent weather in areas which draw large numbers of Americans for
recreation--75 percent of all recreation occurs at or near the shores
of our oceans, large lakes and major rivers--clearly concern us. And
for that reason, the recreation industry seeks to be a vital part of
public policy discussions and action on global climate change.
Can, should and is the recreation community taking actions to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions linked to recreation: the answer to all
three questions is YES. And we feel that together, government, industry
and individuals can achieve important goals that are good for the
environment--and make economic sense, too.
Our efforts are in two fields. The first is at recreation sites. We
know that there are practical steps that can and should be taken to
reduce our environmental impact. We also know that the small business
nature of the recreation industry makes and active technical assistance
initiative by the Environmental Protection Agency, by the U.S.
Department of energy and others vital to assist recreation businesses
identify and adopt best practices.
The second issue is transportation-related actions. Mobility is one
of the core underpinnings of recreation choices in America. Few of us
live where we choose to play. And all of us benefit from the ability to
travel from the regions in which we live to see and experience the
priceless legacy of the outdoors--the one-third of the nation belonging
to every American and managed by agencies including the National Park
Service, the Forest Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the
Bureau fo Land Management and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers--special
places that draw more than a billion visits annually. We strongly
encourage public policies that continue and enhance the connection of
the public to these places. That is why we support enthusiastically the
National Park Service Centennial Initiative. Visits to these places
yields mental and physical health benefits, memories which bond
families and friends and unify us as Americans.
It is for that reason that we call upon the Congress to insure that
actions to respond to global climate concerns do not serve to imprison
Americans indoors.
It is important to understand that actions that reduce greenhouse
gas emissions and promote mobility can be undertaken. In fact, we
applaud this committee for its role in creating and nurturing the
National Scenic Byways Program. Byways deliver great benefits to the
public by slowing travelers down and making trails and fishing spots
more accessible and more findable. Just the very fact that travel on
byways is typically at 40 to 50 miles per hour is a contribution to
emissions reduction, since it increases the efficiency of cars, SUVs
and trucks markedly over that attained when traveling at Interstate
speeds--or worse yet, in congested traffic on Interstates.
Concerns about greenhouse gas emissions has also spurred the
recreation community to open a dialogue with federal recreation site
managers, gateway communities and others about ways to reduce
consumption of motor fuels in another important way. Millions of
Americans tow or carry large recreational items from home to recreation
site--often every week. This movement reduces vehicle efficiency
significantly. We are seeking to protect the ability of Americans to
camp, to boat, to use off-highway vehicles--but to leave these units
nearby actual places of use. This could have a dramatic benefit on fuel
efficiency and safety--and actually save American families money.
We also favor alternative transportation to personal vehicles for
access to recreation sites. There are a handful of national parks and
national forests that facilitate movement from urban residential areas
to public recreation sites, including the Santa Monica Mountains
National Recreation Area near Los Angeles and the Wasatch-Cache
National Forest near Salt Lake City. We need efforts to make such
access much more common.
We also ask help in overcoming an increasingly common complaint
from recreationists: that easy access to free tire inflation stations
has declined precipitously, despite that fact that properly inflated
tires have been demonstrated repeatedly to be the easiest and most
economic way to increase vehicle fleet efficiency.
In closing, we ask the Congress to be wary of the danger of actions
that would discourage healthy active lives and travel to see special
places like national parks. The reality is that a reasonably fuel-
efficient SUV--or even a large motorhome--gets more passenger miles per
gallon when occupied by a family than does even the most fuel efficient
car available today when occupied solely by a driver. And the benefits
to the nation are large. We know that towing and carrying capacity are
key ingredients for purchases of vehicles by many American families,
and we ask your help in protecting the ability of Americans to purchase
vehicles that meet these needs.
Thank you for attention to this important issue.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T1967.039
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T1967.040
Senator Boxer. Thank you, sir, very much. Very good words.
I think what has really been interesting about this hearing is,
I don't know if people realize the majority invites and the
minority invites. I think you are all speaking with one voice,
which is really great for our committee. We need that to happen
more often, I think.
Mr. Berry, we welcome you. Just to remind everyone, you are
from the National Ski Areas Association.
STATEMENT OF MICHAEL BERRY, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL SKI AREAS
ASSOCIATION
Mr. Berry. Absolutely. Thank you, Chairman Boxer. Thank
you, Senators. Thank you for this opportunity to testify on
behalf of the 326 member ski areas of the National Ski Areas
Association. Ski areas across the country are concerned about
the issue of global warming and its potential impacts on winter
recreation, mountain ecosystems, our livelihoods and our way of
life.
I cannot think of a sector that will be more directly and
profoundly impacted by climate change than the ski business. We
in fact are the canary in the cage. As you have heard today,
you have referenced time and time again the issue of the ski
industry.
The success of our operations depends on the weather. We
are a weather-dependent industry. For this reason, we have made
tremendous efforts to raise awareness on the issue of global
warming and put solutions in place to solve it.
In 2002, the National Ski Areas Association adopted a
climate change policy. Our climate change policy was cutting
edge in 2002 and unprecedented among businesses in the
recreation industry. In summary, our climate change policy
adopts a reduce, educate and advocate approach to fighting
global warming. The policy calls for ski resorts around the
country to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions, educate
our guests and the public about the potential threat of climate
change in winter recreation, and advocate the need for
policymakers to act now and act aggressively in curbing
emissions.
Ski areas have taken tremendous steps to reduce our own
greenhouse gas emissions. There are now 59 resorts in the
United States purchasing renewable energy credits, or green
energy, for their facilities and lifts. Of these 59 resorts, 28
are 100 percent green powered. The green power purchase of
these 28 resorts results in avoidance of over 427 million
pounds of CO2.
Additionally, resorts are providing their customers with
opportunities to purchase green tags to offset their carbon
impacts when traveling to and from the resorts, or in fact to
sign up for green energy in their homes. Resorts are also
generating renewable energy onsite through micro-hydro projects
and solar projects, and the first wind turbine will go online
at a ski area in August 2007 at Jiminy Peak Mountain Resort in
Massachusetts.
Resorts are also using green building techniques,
retrofitting existing facilities to save energy, using
alternative fuels such as biodiesel in resort vehicle fleets
and providing and promoting car pooling or mass transit use by
guests and employees.
As an industry, we are a relatively small source of
greenhouse gas emissions. However, we recognize that we will
need to help other industries to help turn this issue around.
Ski areas have educated their guests and the public on the
issue of global warming through an outreach campaign called
Keep Winter Cool. NSAA's partners in the Keep Winter Cool
campaign are the Natural Resources Defense Council and Clif
Bar. Together, we have reached out to millions of people who
ski and snowboard to make changes in their lives to fight
climate change.
We have enlisted famous athletes like Picabo Street and
Shaun White to help us inspire snow sports participants to take
action now to fight global warming. I invite the members of the
committee to visit our Website, www.keepwintercool.org for more
detailed information.
Ski areas have advocated swift action on the part of
policymakers to address the issue of climate change, both at
the Federal and State level. During the 109th Congress, 71 ski
areas in 21 States endorsed the McCain-Lieberman Climate
Stewardship Act. During the 110th Congress, 35 resorts so far
have endorsed the US-CAP approach to fighting global warming.
Ski areas have also supported the adoption of renewable
portfolio standards and cleaner fuels and cleaner vehicle
emission requirements in a number of States.
Ski areas are aware of the many studies and models that
project the impact of global warming on snowpack. As an
industry, we have tracked the average number of days that our
member resorts are open across five regions in the country.
Over a 16-year period, our data shows a declining trend in the
number of days open nationally and in several regions as well.
More specifically, the data shows a decline of over one day
nationally per season over the past 16 years, and a decline of
1.2 days in the Northeastern part of the United States.
As you are also aware, there have been four recently
published reports that specifically predict the economic harm
to the American ski industry as a result of climate change. Two
were authored in mountain communities in the western United
States: Climate Change in Aspen: An Assessment of Impacts and
Potential Responses by the Aspen Global Change Institute; and
Save Our Snow: Climate Change in Park City by the Stratus
Consulting Group.
There are plenty of good reasons for ski resorts to be
concerned about climate change and its potential impact on
winter recreation. If as scientific models suggest, warming
continues, we will experience a decreased snowpack, warmer
nights, shorter seasons, and all of these changes could
profoundly affect our industry. Fewer operating days would
obviously impact our bottom line. Warmer nights would impact
our ability to make snow, and snow making has become the norm
in the industry with over 88 percent of our members making
snow.
For snow sports, the ski and snowboard industry in the
United States at the resort level is a $5 billion industry. It
employs 165,000 people. When you add in development, the
equipment and apparel side of the industry, and all of the
other businesses that rely on winter tourism, we have a
significant and profound impact on the economy where we exist.
In fact, we are particularly crucial in the rural economies
across the country.
There are ski areas in 37 States. Fifteen members of the
committee have ski areas in their States, including the great
State of Rhode Island. The ski industry views climate change as
a long-term problem. However, we need to act now to solve this
problem. While we have significant concerns over the potential
impact of climate change on our operations, we are also
optimistic about the future. We believe in technology. We know
that solutions exist to address this problem, and trust that
policymakers will act decisively in putting those solutions in
place.
The only other alternative we can ask is that Congress move
Christmas to February, and since we know that that won't
happen, we respectfully request swift and aggressive measures
to address this important issue.
Thank you for your consideration.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Berry follows:]
Statement of Michael Berry, President, National Ski Areas Association
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today on behalf of the
326-member ski areas of the National Ski Areas Association. Ski areas
across the country are concerned about the issue of global warming and
its potential impacts on winter recreation, mountain ecosystems, our
bottom line and our way of life. I cannot think of a business that will
be more directly and profoundly impacted by global warming than the ski
business. The success of our operations depends on the weather. For
this reason, we have made tremendous efforts to raise awareness of the
issue of global warming and put solutions in place to solve it.
2002 CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY
In 2002, the National Ski Areas Association adopted a climate
change policy. At that time, climate change was the elephant under the
carpet that needed to be addressed and addressed directly. Our climate
change policy was cutting edge in 2002 and unprecedented among
businesses in the recreation industry. In summary, our climate change
policy adopts a ``REDUCE, EDUCATE, ADVOCATE'' approach to fighting
global warming. The policy calls for ski resorts to reduce their own
greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), educate our guests and the public
about the potential threat of climate change to winter recreation, and
advocate the need for policy makers to act now and act aggressively in
curbing GHG emissions.
Ski areas have taken tremendous steps to reduce our own GHG
emissions. There are now fifty-nine (59) resorts purchasing renewable
energy credits or green energy for their facilities and lifts. Of these
59 resorts, 28 are 100 percent green powered. The green power purchases
of these 28 resorts result in the avoidance of 427,596,000 pounds of
carbon dioxide (CO2). This is the equivalent of planting
nearly 17 million trees or avoiding more than 169,000 round-trip
flights between New York and San Francisco. Additionally, resorts are
providing their customers the opportunity to purchase ``green tags'' to
offset their emissions and ``ski pollution free'' or sign up for green
energy in their homes. Resorts are also generating renewable energy on
site through micro-hydro and solar projects, and the first wind turbine
will go on line at a ski area in August of 2007 at Jiminy Peak Mountain
Resort in Massachusetts. Resorts are also using green building
techniques, retrofitting existing facilities to save energy, using
alternative fuels such as biodiesel in resort vehicle fleets, and
providing or promoting car pooling or mass transit use by guests and
employees. We are a relatively small source of greenhouse gas
emissions, however, and recognize that we will need the help of other
industries to turn this problem around.
Ski areas have educated their guests and the public on the issue of
global warming through an outreach campaign called ``Keep Winter
Cool.'' NSAA's partners in the Keep Winter Cool campaign are the
Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Clif Bar, the energy bar
maker in California. Together, we have reached out to millions of
people who ski and snowboard to make changes in their lives to fight
global warming. We have enlisted famous athletes like Picabo Street
from the great State of Idaho and Shaun White from the great State of
California to help us inspire snowsports participants to take action
now to fight global warming. I invite the members of the Committee to
visit our website, www.keepwintercool.org for more information.
Ski areas have advocated swift action on the part of policymakers
to address the issue of climate change, both that the federal and state
level. During the 109th Congress, 71 ski areas in 21 states endorsed
the McCain/Lieberman Climate Stewardship Act. During the 110th
Congress, thirty resorts have endorsed the US-CAP approach to fighting
global warming. Ski areas have also supported the adoption of renewable
portfolio standards (RPS) and cleaner fuels and cleaner vehicle
emissions requirements in a number of states.
SCIENCE AND DATA
Ski areas are aware of the many studies and models that project the
impact of global warming on snowpack. As an industry, we have tracked
the average number of days that our member resorts are open across five
regions of the country. Over a 16-year period, our data shows a
declining trend in the number of days open nationally and in several
regions. More specifically, the data shows a decline of 0.8 days
nationally per season over the past 16 years; a decline of 1.2 days per
season in the Northeast; and a decline of 0.7 days in the Rocky
Mountains. One hundred and thirty-four (134) of our member ski areas
operate on U.S. Forest Service land. These resorts have witnessed
declining recreation budgets and increased spending on forest fires in
the past 10 years. Former U.S. Forest Service Chief Dale Bosworth
stated upon retiring from the agency earlier this year that climate
change is ``undeniable'' and that it has ``huge social, economic and
ecological implications.''
We are also aware of four recently published reports that
specifically predict economic harm to the American ski industry as a
result of climate change. They are: Less Snow, Less Water: Climate
Disruption in the West, by Stephen Saunders and Maureen Maxwell of the
Rocky Mountain Climate Organization; Climate Change: Modeling a Warmer
Rockies and Assessing the Implications, by Gregory Zimmerman, Caitlin
O'Brady, and Bryan Hurlbutt of Colorado College; Climate Change and
Aspen: An Assessment of Impacts and Potential Responses, by the Aspen
Global Change Institute; and Save Our Snow: Climate Change in Park City
by Stratus Consulting Group.
OPERATIONAL IMPACTS
There are plenty of good reasons for ski resorts to be concerned
about climate change and its potential impacts on winter recreation.
Scientific models suggest that as warming continues, we could
experience decreased snowpack, warmer nights, and shorter seasons. All
of these changes could profoundly affect our industry. Fewer operating
days would obviously impact our bottom line. Warmer nights would impact
our ability to make snow. Snowmaking has become the norm in our
industry. Eighty-eight (88) percent of our members make snow. We start
making snow in October to meet pent up demand for early season skiing
and snowboarding. It is crucial that we have sufficient snow cover for
the holidays, as they account for 30 percent of our revenues. This
season, it was impossible for many resorts to make snow due to warmer
temperatures at night--even in December and January. Warmer nights also
significantly drive up the costs associated with snowmaking. Finally,
spring rain can wash away our base at a critical time of year for
skiing and snowboarding and shorten our season.
ECONOMIC IMPACTS
The mountain resort industry is a $5 billion industry that employs
165,000 people. When you add in real estate, the equipment and apparel
side of the industry, and all of the other businesses that rely on
winter tourism to stay afloat, we have profound economic impacts. The
ski industry's economic health is particularly crucial for a number of
rural economies across the country. There are ski areas in 34 states.
Fifteen members of this Committee have ski areas in their states.
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
The ski industry views climate change as a long-term problem.
However, we need to act now to solve this problem and turn things
around. While we have significant concerns over the potential impact of
climate change on our operations, we are also optimistic about the
future. We believe in technology. We know that solutions exist to
address this problem, and trust that policymakers will act quickly and
decisively in putting solutions in place. The only other alternative
for us is to ask Congress to move Christmas to February. Knowing that
will never happen, we respectfully request swift and aggressive
measures to address this important issue.
Thank you for your consideration of these remarks and the
opportunity to address the committee today.
Senator Boxer. Well, that said it all, didn't it, Mr.
Berry?
Our final speaker to testify is Barry McCahill, president
of the SUV Owners of America.
STATEMENT OF BARRY W. McCAHILL, PRESIDENT, SUV OWNERS OF
AMERICA
Mr. McCahill. Thank you, Chairman Boxer and Senators. Thank
you for including us.
SUVOA is an independent, nonprofit organization looking out
for the needs not only of those who enjoy the great outdoors,
but also those who need the power and utility of full-sized
vehicles that they can use to haul, tow and carry more people.
Our intent is not to market SUVs, and we are independent of the
car companies.
We are not a one-size-fits-all society. Light trucks fill
an important economic and social niche. Those who own these
vehicles are very concerned about the environment. They want
improved fuel economy and less dependence on imported oil, as
much if not more than many others.
Most own them because they meet their family, business or
lifestyle needs. They don't buy them as a fashion statement.
Many are also persuaded by the better crash performance of
larger vehicles. Based on the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration, data SUVs are 5 to 7 percent safer than
passenger cars. Senator Lautenberg has been very involved in
highway safety. I worked at the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration for an entire career, and he has been a leader
in highway safety so he knows what I am speaking about.
Tens of millions also use their light trucks to tow camp
trailers, snowmobiles, or boats. Last summer while camping, a
reporter with a major news organization called me and asked if
SUV owners should feel guilty about what he referred to as
``gas guzzling vehicles'' that some would say nobody needs. I
looked around the campground and I saw lots of motorhomes, SUVs
and pickups. Near them were families cooking breakfast over
open fires, a father and son headed to the lake to fish. Some
of the families included grandparents who were passing along an
important tradition.
What I saw is something I think we need more of in this
country--families together outdoors, having fun, and creating
memories. Importantly, they would not be doing so without
vehicles that get them, their campers, and their gear to
campsites. This lifestyle, along with boating, horse shows and
many other forms of outdoor recreation could disappear if fuel
economy mandates are pushed to the extreme, or become a luxury
that only the wealthy could afford.
Today, just 1 percent of cars have the capacity to tow a
small trailer or fishing boat. Indeed, SUVs and minivans came
on the scene as car substitutes because Americans demanded
vehicles that could carry a family comfortably and safely and
haul and tow for recreational purposes. Loss of towing capacity
and reduced safety were never envisioned when the CAFE program
was conceived in 1976, but that is what happened.
But its most strategic shortcoming is that it was conceived
to reduce our reliance on foreign oil, and since we have more
than doubled the percentage of our oil imports. So a
fundamental question is, are we willing to bet our strategic
interests again solely on CAFE.
The question is always raised, why can't somebody make a
light truck or SUV that gets 35 miles to the gallon. Gasoline
has been $5 to $6 a gallon in Europe for years, and yet the
fastest growing vehicle segment in Europe is SUVs. In the
United States, we have had sustained high gas prices and light
trucks are still selling strong.
The marketplace is begging for an ultra-high mileage, full-
size vehicle that meets the utility niche. Since market
pressures have not already created such a vehicle, any
legislation encouraging its arrival must anticipate any
potential tradeoffs and explain them up front to the American
people.
We need to work innovatively to solve our strategic and
environmental challenges in ways that hold more promise and
preserve the varied transportation needs of the American
people. Chairman Boxer, I commend you for your remarks last
month at the National Press Club when you said cars and trucks
must move toward green and renewable fuels such as
environmentally clean biofuels. I would add clean diesel to
that list.
There is a ``build it and they will come'' energy
opportunity in this country. SUV, pickup and RV owners would
like to be able to burn alternative fuels that are more fuel
efficient. The problem is lack of availability and no
infrastructure to make these fuels viable economically. I urge
this committee to be a catalyst for making infrastructure
incentives and other consumer incentives a key part of the path
forward.
Historically, our Nation has accomplished great things when
the times demanded it. Now is such a time. Decisions must be
grounded in technical feasibility, shared responsibility, and
respect for individual preferences, rather than a simple
``nobody needs it'' attitude. Lifestyle preferences that
include outdoor recreation should be valued as traditions worth
protecting. As Senator Sanders said, finally, we must get it
right this time. There will be no second chance if policies of
expediency are allowed to rule the day, and a decade from now
the only results are way of life detriments and no
environmental or energy security improvements.
Ultimately, what we are talking about from a vehicle
standpoint are the vehicles that our grandchildren will all be
driving. We won't be driving them, but our grandchildren
probably will, so it is really, really important I think that
we get it right and we work together collectively on a path
forward.
Thank you very much, Madam Chairman.
[The prepared statement of Mr. McCahill follows:]
Statement of Barry W. McCahill, President, SUV Owners of America
Good morning, Chairman Boxer, Senator Inhofe and members of the
Committee.
Thank you for including the views of SUV, van, minivan and pickup
truck owners in the hearing today. All of which are referred to and
regulated as ``light trucks.''
SUVOA is an independent, non-profit organization looking out for
the needs of not only those who enjoy the great outdoors, but also
those who need the power and utility of full-size vehicles that can
haul, tow and carry more people. Our purpose is not to market light
trucks. Instead, we advocate for vehicle choice, and work to educate
consumers honestly about such topics as safety, fuel economy, emissions
and vehicle utility.
Personal transportation is a multi-faceted proposition. We are not
a one-size-fits-all society and light trucks fill an important economic
and social niche. Those who own these vehicles want improved fuel
economy and less dependence on imported oil as much as anyone. Let me
be clear. As an SUV owner who lives in a state where these vehicles are
very popular, I can assure you that owners want better fuel economy.
Most own them because they meet their family, business or lifestyle
needs, and a smaller vehicle would force them to give up important
attributes they need and value. Most do not buy them to make a fashion
statement.
After four decades of a federal emphasis on making safety a
purchase priority, many also are persuaded by the better crash
performance of larger vehicles. Based on 10 years of data from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that SUVs
are 5-7 times safer than passenger cars. I have attached our study as
Attachment A.
Moreover, numerous experts have studied the effect of gas mileage
standards that resulted in down-sized cars and light trucks and found
that safety has suffered because smaller vehicles simply do not provide
the same protection to their occupants that larger ones do.
One group, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS),
tracks the safety of a variety of vehicles using NHTSA and insurance
company claims data. IIHS data clearly show that since 1978, the
overall rates of driver and occupant deaths per million registered
vehicles have declined across the board. However, declines in death
rates have been largest for SUV occupants, showing that larger vehicles
are safer than smaller ones. A chart comparing fatal crash risk across
vehicle groups can be found as Attachment B.
Tens of millions also use their light trucks both as family
transportation during the week and as the vehicle that tows a trailer
or boat on weekends and vacations. Most people buy their vehicles for
``peak use.'' That is, if they need a vehicle to tow a boat or horse
trailer, they buy a vehicle capable of doing that--and then use that
vehicle for other transportation needs such as commuting and family
errands.
I am one of them. I hold a U.S. Coast Guard Master license and have
owned boats all my life. I also own a motor home that my wife and I use
for camping and to connect with our children, grandchildren and friends
around the country.
Last summer, while camping, a reporter with a major news
organization called me. He wanted to know if SUV owners should feel
guilty for owning what he referred to as ``gas-guzzling vehicles that
some would say nobody needs.''
It was early morning and as I looked around the beautiful
campground, Ponderosa State Park in McCall, Idaho, I saw lots of motor
homes, SUVs and pickups. Near them were families cooking breakfast over
open fires. A father and son headed to Payette Lake to fish. Some of
the families included grandparents who were passing along an important
tradition.
What a profound disconnect from the question the reporter asked. I
saw no guilt, nor should there be any. What I saw is what we need more
of in this country--families together outdoors having fun and creating
memories.
Importantly, they would not be doing so without vehicles that can
get them, their trailers' fifth wheels and all their other gear to the
campsites. This lifestyle, along with boating, horse shows and many
other forms of outdoor recreation, could disappear if fuel economy
mandates are pushed to the extreme--or at minimum a luxury that only
the wealthy could continue to enjoy.
As part of my formal statement, I am including a photograph of a
restored 1951 Ford sedan hitched to a camping trailer. Tom Nelson, an
Idaho RV dealer, owns this rig and keeps it at his dealership as a
reminder of the days back in the 1950s when RVing was just beginning.
And cars could still tow a trailer.
Today, just one percent of cars have the capacity to tow a small
trailer or fishing boat. Why? Because of Federal fuel economy mandates.
Indeed SUVs and minivans came on the scene as car substitutes
because Americans demanded vehicles that could carry a family
comfortably and safely, and haul and tow for recreational purposes
after ever more stringent CAFE standards had regulated family station
wagons off the market. Fortunately Congress was wise enough to
recognize that light trucks do a lot more work than passenger cars and
therefore should be subject to less stringent fuel economy standards.
SUVOA recently compiled a towing guide to help consumers match 2007
tow vehicles to popular RVs, boats, and other recreational equipment
that need to be towed. The guide also provides safety tips,
illustrations and links to other towing-related Websites. In compiling
the guide, we learned that there is a real need for consumer education
about towing because many people today try to tow things that exceed
motor vehicle and RV dealer recommendations for safe towing.
According to the RV Safety and Education Foundation, 49 percent of
travel trailers are towed in excess of the vehicle's recommended
maximum capacity. Our SUVOA press release on lost towing capacity,
containing a link to the towing guide on our Website is in Attachment C
of my testimony.
Loss of towing capacity was not envisioned when the Corporate
Average Fuel Economy or CAFE program was conceived in 1976. But it
happened because in the rush to ``do something'' about oil dependence,
the down range consequences were not well thought out. Fuel economy
trumped all other considerations.
Let's hope history does not repeat itself. But it could. The CAFE
levels many now want to require would have profound lifestyle
consequences for our vehicle fleet--cars, light trucks and even large
RVs and on-road trucks. Moreover, it's highly unlikely to get us where
we need to be with energy independence. In 1975, we imported 35 percent
of our oil from foreign sources. Today, we import more than 70 percent
of our oil.
I've been involved with CAFE for nearly three decades. I retired in
1996 after a career at NHTSA, the agency that manages the program. So,
I'm familiar with the history of the CAFE program. It manipulates the
supply of vehicles while ignoring consumer wants and needs. Thousands
of lives have been lost because of unintended safety consequences from
CAFE-induced vehicle downsizing. Whole forests have been decimated to
print enough paper to explain its complexities.
But its most strategic shortcoming is that it creates expectations
that do not pan out. Conceived to reduce our reliance on foreign oil,
as I mentioned earlier, we have since doubled the percentage of oil
imports. CAFE did not do what it was intended to do.
The perfect analogy of CAFE's unintended consequences is in this
month's issue of Consumer Reports. The article, ``Washers and Dryers--
Dirty Laundry'' is about the Federal Government's new efficiency
standards for washing machines that saves energy but weakens the
washers to the point they don't do what they're supposed to. According
to Consumer Reports:
``Not so long ago you could count on most washers to get your
clothes very clean. Not anymore. Our latest tests found huge
performance differences among machines. Some left our stain-soaked
swatches nearly as dirty as they were before washing. For best results
you'll have to spend $900 or more. What happened? As of January, the
U.S. Department of Energy has required washers to use 21 percent less
energy, a goal we wholeheartedly support. But our tests have found that
traditional top-loaders, those with the familiar center-post agitators,
are having a tough time wringing out those savings without sacrificing
cleaning ability, the main reason you buy a washer.''
Among the reasons we are here today is precisely because CAFE has
failed to deliver and the nation needs a new strategy. Are we willing
to bet our strategic interested on CAFE again, or is it time to try
something else?
So why can't somebody just make a light truck that gets 35 miles
per gallon? As complex as all of this is it really boils down to one
simple concept: Gasoline has been $5 and $6 a gallon in Europe for
years and yet the fastest growing vehicle segment in Europe is SUVs. In
the United States we have had sustained high gas prices and light
trucks are still selling strong. The marketplace is begging for an
ultra-high-mileage full-sized vehicle that meets the utility niche.
Since market pressures have not already resulted in such a vehicle(s),
legislation forcing its arrival surely must come with negative
tradeoffs consumers would not accept if they knew. As a matter of basic
fairness and sound policy, potential tradeoffs need to be anticipated
and explained up front to the American people.
Moreover, why not try a better approach? Why not work innovatively
to solve our strategic energy challenges in ways that hold more promise
and preserve the varied transportation needs of the American people?
Chairman Boxer, I commend you for your remarks last month at the
National Press Club where you said that ``cars and trucks must move
toward, green, renewable fuels such as environmentally clean biofuels.
. . .'' I would add clean diesel to the list.
There is a ``build it and they will come'' energy opportunity in
this country today. SUV, minivan pickup truck and RV owners would like
to be able to burn alternative fuels that are more efficient. The
problem is lack of availability and no infrastructure to make these
fuels viable economically. I urge this Committee to be the catalyst for
making infrastructure incentives a key part of a path forward.
Historically our nation has accomplished great things when the
times demanded it. Now is such a time. Energy and environmental
decisions must be grounded in technical feasibility rather than
unrealistic thinking; shared responsibility rather than some carrying
the burden for all; and respect for individual preferences rather than
a ``nobody needs'' attitude.
Lifestyle preferences that include outdoor recreation should be
valued as traditions worth protecting.
Finally, we must get it right this time. There will be no second
chance if policies of expediency are allowed to rule the day and a
decade from now the only results are way of life detriments and no
environmental or energy security improvements.
Thank you and I would be pleased to answer any questions.
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Senator Boxer. Thank you so much.
We are now into the question time. I am going to defer my
questions until the end, so I am going to call on Senator
Sanders to start 5-minute rounds.
Senator Sanders. Thanks. Madam Chair, thank you very much
for holding this important hearing and for all the work you are
doing on raising consciousness and providing solutions on
global warming.
I want to thank all of the panelists. I think this has been
a very educational opportunity for those of us up here to hear
what many of you from different walks of life and different
regions of our country have to say about the impact of global
warming in your particular areas of interest.
But let me focus my questions obviously on Bryant Watson
who is the head of the Vermont Association of Snowmobilers and
snowmobile travelers in the State of Vermont. Bryant has done a
great job with that organization over the years.
Bryant, you mentioned the economic impact that global
warming is having on our economy in the loss of tourism and the
fact that fewer people are doing snowmobiling and skiing and
snowboarding and so forth and so on. Focus for a moment not
just on tourism, as important as that is, but what it means for
our rural way of life. In the wintertime, we have thousands and
thousands of families. These are husbands, wives, and kids
going out snowmobiling, going on beautiful trips, just
incredibly beautiful parts of our State. We welcome all of you
to come to our State to see those beautiful parts. But what is
happening if we are losing snow and families don't have the
opportunity to get out in the wintertime?
Mr. Watson. Thank you for the question, Senator Sanders. It
means a very lot to a lot of families who live in rural
Vermont, to a lot of families who do not live in rural Vermont,
to a lot of families from outside of the State of Vermont who
come to enjoy rural Vermont. We have seen trail passes over the
last several years be down more than 40 percent over what they
should be, so that means that a very big portion of that $500
million a year economic impact that snowmobiling should be
bringing to the State is not being brought to the State.
When this happens, the small businesses, the mom and pop
stores, the little hotels, the little motels that are in the
back country of Vermont.
Senator Sanders. Some of our most hard pressed economic
areas.
Mr. Watson. Some of our most hard pressed economic areas
that have no other ability to offer jobs, are losing great
amounts of jobs because of the lack of winter type tourism in
those areas. Ice fishing, a lot of the lakes haven't frozen
over, Lake Champlain didn't even freeze over this year, but a
lot of the other lakes never froze over until February. So ice
fishing was definitely set back many, many weeks from what it
normally would be. So even that economic impact has not been
there.
So the snowmobile dealers in the State are having a very
tough time as I indicated. Many of them are giving up their
dealerships because they can't afford to continue to take the
number of snowmobiles that the dealers want to make them take
in order to be able to retain their dealership. That is not
only in Vermont. I have talked to my counterparts in New York
and Michigan and Wisconsin and Minnesota, and they all feel the
same. They all see dealerships and/or mom and pop businesses
going out of business because of the lack of winter recreation.
Senator Sanders. Okay. Thanks very much.
Senator Boxer. Senator Sanders, thank you very much.
Senator Lautenberg.
Senator Lautenberg. Thanks again, Madam Chairman.
Mr. Berry, I made an error when I looked at the
organization you represent. I belong to the National Ski
Association, which is not the ski owners, although I have tried
that a little bit, and was it was not a good business. It had
nothing to do with whether or not people could get to the area.
When we look at the recreational areas, particularly I am
especially fond of winter moments. My son is a ski instructor
and ski competitor in Vail, CO. My youngest daughter was
captain of the women's ski team at Colgate University and she
took them to a national championship. We have skied all over.
At one point in time, I have skied every area in Vermont, Mr.
Watson. As they would open, I would ski them. By the way, I
still do it, yes, 60 years of skiing, and sometimes skiing
35,000 or 40,000 feet in a day, bragging.
But what happens is not only is the lost revenue, and the
pain to the small business people, many of whom have been in
place, built their businesses closely in contact with the
visitors, and present a really wholesome environment. That is
the thing also, that when it is parents and kids together, and
they are skiing together, and the only thing that gets you
really ginned up is when your little kid passes you by on the
slope. I am talking about my kids. I am talking about my 5-year
old. She is the one who lives in Colorado. She is really good.
Anyway, but it is a whole cultural thing, the trip up to
Vermont, and we did it for many years, at night, hearing the
cry, Dad, when are we going to get there; Dad, when are we
going to get there, and I keep saying, in minutes, in minutes,
in minutes.
But it established a camaraderie in a family that is very
hard to get in other places, whether it is fishing or sailing
or boating or snowmobiling. You name it. Nothing brings
families together more than outdoor recreational activities. I
treasure it, and if I didn't have to work so many hours here, I
would do a lot more of it with my kids who live all over.
But when we looked at what we can do about it, and I see
that the ski areas, Mr. Berry, are finding ways to get green
energy included, because there is an energy consumption, but
there is no place that adds more to the quality of life in the
country than the ski areas, than the recreational areas that
the country owns, available for activities, whatever they are.
So I commend those of you in the recreational industry. The
erratic weather conditions are things that are talked about
here in derogatory terms, saying, well, there are cold days out
there, more cold days, and the polar bears aren't really in bad
shape. Well, not if you take them in a particular area, but if
you take the population overall, they are declining. They are
emaciated. It is terrible to see them. Loads and loads of snow
comes, and often in the Sierras, and now what happens it is
gone in no time, Mr. Berry. That is the problem. There is very
little retention of the snow.
So the days are shortened. The people are disappointed, and
the jobs are not there. So I commend each one of you for your
comments, and once again the Chairman for highlighting this
very important part of America's favorite pastime, outdoor
recreation.
Thank you all very much.
Senator Boxer. Senator Lautenberg, you said it so well. I
really am not going to ask questions because really everything
I was interested in each of you addressed, whether it was Mr.
Campion giving us the hard cold facts on what has occurred
already to his business challenges as a result of the warming
of the climate, and to the witnesses that were invited by my
Republican friends. I am really disappointed my friends didn't
come here.
This was a panel was in agreement, agreement that we have
to act. We have to be smart about how we act, but we absolutely
have to.
I have a couple of questions I am going to submit to you,
if you don't mind. I am going to hold the record open for a
week and ask you to answer them, because it gets into some of
the cures that we are looking at. But let me say, this was a
rare experience for me as Chairman here, where we have people
wearing so many different hats here, with one message to us
which is be smart about this, act on this, a lot depends on it.
I also again want to thank our sports stars who are here
with us, who care about this deeply. It is a passion with you.
You don't want to think of a world where kids can't have the
chance you had.
We are really talking about a way of life here that goes
well beyond politics, and has nothing to do with politics. It
brings us all together. It is rare that you can talk about a
business that brings so much joy to people. It is a little
different than the gas business where people pull up to the
pump in California now, nearing $4 a gallon. They don't feel so
happy toward the oil business, but they are sure happy when
they get up there.
I agree with Mr. McCahill. We have to get them up there in
fuel efficient vehicles. That is another one of our jobs that
we have to do.
So I will again say for the record, what we are talking
about here in America, and I am trying to figuratively grab my
colleagues by the shoulders and say, listen to this. So I am
going to say it again: Listen to this. In 2006, national
tourism-related sales amounted to $1.2 trillion in the United
States, and were responsible for over 8 million jobs. So when
we are talking about climate change, it is not just an academic
exercise.
It is literally life and death for a lot of people in terms
of their survival. When you are talking about my State, as
usual we are usually about 10 percent, we are $94 billion, and
900,000 jobs in 2006. The prediction of our snowpack is quite
alarming.
So I am going to follow up particularly with Dr. Scott on
some of the technical questions about your views on these
predictions. But we know enough now to know that time is of the
essence.
I really want to say to each and every one of you at this
panel and to the athletes that are here today, this is just I
hope you view it as your first visit to Washington. Each of you
I would guess without asking, and I won't ask, you know, has
different political views on a lot of other issues. You
probably differ on many other things, but you are brought
together on this issue. I would urge you to stay together,
because I think if we can make this issue of global warming a
bipartisan issue, there will be nothing stopping us.
Right now, it is too polarized. We have, you know, a few
bipartisan opportunities. We have the Lieberman-McCain bill. We
have Kerry-Snowe. We have a few of these bills that are
bipartisan. For the most part, yet, we haven't really had the
breakthrough. So I guess I am asking you, not asking you now,
but I am asking you to think about this when you leave. I hope
this was a good experience for you. I hope you realize that in
a Senate that is so busy, this is probably our last day before
a break, and to have four Senators here for most of the time is
very, very good. I am sorry we didn't have anybody from the
other side. I am sure they had many other challenges they had
to deal with today.
But let's not give up on this. Your voices are really key
here. I would love to see you come back another day and bring
other people from this recreation industry with you, and make
it a lobby day on the Hill, however you do it, because,
especially I would say to the star athletes who are here,
people are very interested in meeting you, in talking with you,
and hearing you. I need all the help I can get with this job
that I have. I think your voices are going to really help me.
So I thank you from the bottom of my heart for coming up
here today. Your testimony has been entered into the record in
full. It will make a difference as we set the stage for what we
consider to be major legislation. We are starting with
confidence-building measures, small measures, but they are
starting to add up in the way Americans are looking at their
daily lives. I think it is starting to make a difference now.
Thank you for adding to that sense of urgency.
The committee stands adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 11:55 a.m., the committee adjourned.]
[Additional statement submitted for the record follows:]
Statement of Hon. James M. Inhofe, U.S. Senator from the
State of Oklahoma
Thank you for having this hearing today, Madam Chairman. I have to
say, however, that we seem to have hearing after hearing after hearing
on climate change--indeed, this is the Committee's second one this week
alone--but we don't seem to actually discuss legislation. While other
Committees without jurisdiction on this issue attempt to write our
Nation's global warming policies, this Committee sits idly by talking
about tangential issues. I believe that if we do wrestle with actual
legislation, then the folly of cap-and-trade carbon legislation will
become apparent.
The recreation industry's true threats come not from climate
change--which has always changed and will always change--but from the
so-called global warming `solutions' being proposed by government
policymakers. Misguided efforts to `solve' global warming threaten to
damage the travel and recreation industry. In short, it is a direct
threat America's way of life. If we cannot fly to remote locations, and
if few automobiles are capable of pulling boats, jet skies, and
campers, and if RVs become a thing of the past as environmentalists
would like, then minor climate fluctuations will have little impact on
recreation because Americans will not have the means to recreate.
I will not belabor my views about the scientific underpinnings of
global warming alarmism, other than to make a few observations. The
fact that climate fluctuates--changes--is nothing new, and should not
be feared. It has always changed, and unless the processes of the
planet suddenly stopped, it always will. There is little disagreement
that it warmed in the Northern Hemisphere from about 1970's until 1998,
and that since that time, temperatures flattened. And there is general
agreement that some human activities such as the building of cities and
expanding agriculture, have contributed to this. But there remains much
debate in the peer-reviewed scientific literature as to the many
factors which may influence climate that is of importance to the
question of whether climate fluctuations are natural or caused by
humans. But regardless of that debate, a healthy functioning planet
means constant changes in our climate.
There are winners and losers as climate fluctuates. A warming
period could be a boon for warm weather destinations like beaches and
lakes and a cooling period like we experienced from 1940-1970s could be
beneficial for cold weather recreation like skiing and snowboarding.
This past winter saw record snows in the Rocky Mountain region as well
as an unusually cold spring in Alaska. Currently, we are seeing a
Memorial Day snow advisory for the Colorado Mountains. Wyoming being
buried in a May snowstorm and parts of Canada are still enduring
winter. In addition, South Africa just set 54 new cold weather records
with some parts seeing snow for the first time in 33 years as snow and
ice continue to fall. And I am not finished. A massive snowstorm in
China has closed highways and stranded motorists. And finally, winter
has arrived early in Australia as the snow season is off to a promising
start for the winter recreation industry.
But the most verifiable threat to the recreation and travel
industry is the unintended consequences of misguided government policy
and environmental activists. The chilling effect of guilt that the
climate alarmists are attempting to instill in Americans for owning
four wheel drive vehicles, flying in an airplane and enjoying travel is
enough to harm the industry. For examples of this promotion of
misguided policies and guilt, you need look no further than a proposal
in April by the UK-based Institute for Public Policy Research, which
called for tobacco-style health warnings on airplanes to warn
passengers that the plane flight may be contributing to a global
warming crisis. The group proposed posting signs on airplanes which
read ``flying causes climate change.''
Another example of unintended consequences by climate crusaders was
the recent proclamation by a UK grocery store announcing it would usher
in 'carbon friendly' policies and stop importing food from faraway
nations. This proposal may have been popular with wealthy Western
environmentalists, but the idea did not sit so well with poor African
farmers. As a February 21, 2007 BBC article details:&
``Kenyan farmers, whose lifelong carbon emissions are negligible
compared with their counterparts in the West, are fast becoming the
victims of a green campaign that could threaten their livelihoods. A
recent bold statement by UK supermarket Tesco ushering in `carbon
friendly' measures--such as restricting the imports of air freighted
goods by half and the introduction of `carbon counting' labeling--has
had environmentalists dancing in the fresh produce aisles, but has left
African horticulturists confused and concerned.''
The BBC article continues:
``Half of this produce goes to the UK's supermarkets, generating at
least 100m per year for this developing country. The
dependence on the UK market cannot be underestimated, says Stephen
Mbithi Mwikya, chief executive of FPEAK. For Kenya, horticulture is the
country's second biggest foreign exchange earner after tourism. `This
announcement from Tesco is devastating', says Mr Mbithi.''
The recent announcement by travel guru Mark Ellingham, the author
of the Rough Guide travel book series, that he was now recanting his
promotion of worldwide travel is another blow to the travel and
recreation industry. Ellingham now says that our addiction to `binge
flying' is killing the planet.
This kind of alarmism should concern the travel and recreation
industry, not natural climate fluctuations which mankind has no control
over.
There is even more proof showing that the dangers facing travel and
recreation are coming from climate hysteria. The Associated Press on
May 16, 2007 reported that ecotourism--the type of travel you would
expect environmentalists to endorse--is no more Earth friendly than
regular travel due to the long plane flights necessary to bring
vacationers to exotic locales. The Norwegian Environment Minister Helen
Bjoernoey is now warning about long distance travel.
``Long distance travel--especially air travel--is a challenge to
all of us. We know that it has serious impacts on the climate,''
Bjoernoey said.
I cannot think of a more devastating sentiment to the industry than
that. Reduce air travel because of unfounded fears of climate doom.
That is the authentic threat not only to the travel industry, but the
developing world which depends so much on tourism to improve the life
its residents. Clearly, the unfounded fears of a man-made climate
catastrophe and the proposed solutions represent the gravest threats to
the industry.
Thank you.