Alaska Needs You This Holiday Season

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported last week that U.S. emissions have dropped by 3% this year, but our country is still set to fall well short of its climate goals under the Paris accord.?

It’s no secret that to save our planet, we need to emit fewer greenhouse gases while conserving land and water to drawdown existing carbon from the atmosphere. You only need to see a few tacky holiday ads online today or try to find a parking spot at your local shopping center next weekend to witness the rampant consumerism that helped get us into this mess.??

We recognize that we are complicit in the environmental crisis. However, we try to do our part in addressing it, including making high-quality products that last and making it as easy as we can for our customers to repair them rather than replace them. Furthermore, pushing mindless consumerism for the sake of sales has never been part of our strategy, and that includes Black Friday promotions. This year, Patagonia is asking our community to support increased protection for three areas in Alaska: The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the National Petroleum Reserve-Area and the Brooks Range. Specifically, under the banner “Save Big” (thanks to our clever creative team), we’re?urging our community?to take advantage of the federal government’s comment period and ensure their voice is heard in favor of protecting Alaska’s public and Tribal lands.?

Protecting and restoring intact, undeveloped land and water can provide approximately one-third of the carbon sequestration needed to solve the climate crisis. Alaska is home to one-third of the nation’s federal lands, nearly 40% of the entire U.S. coastline and more than 60% of America’s wetlands. It holds millions of acres of wilderness-quality lands with critical habitat for migratory birds, brown bears, caribou, polar bears, walruses, beluga whales and more. I recently traveled there and saw the beauty, along with what’s at stake. We have an opportunity right now with the Biden administration to build on decades of advocacy to protect millions of acres.?

Patagonia has been supporting activists on the ground in Alaska for three decades, and if you’re looking at your year-end charitable giving budget, please consider donating to groups such as Alaska Wilderness League, Gwich’in Steering Committee, National Parks Conservation Association, Trustees for Alaska, Earthjustice and the Northern Alaska Environmental Center.?

Please submit a comment to Save Big. This holiday deal won’t last: the deadlines are coming up next month. These protections could stick around forever though, and nothing brings seasonal joy like a Department of Interior comment period!?