OIA to tackle climate change issue
The Outdoor Industries Association (OIA) is calling upon its members to focus on the issues surrounding a commercial, sustainable outdoor business in the face of climate change.
The association is supporting this year’s Innovation For Extremes conference, innov_ex 08, which is to take place at Lancaster University, UK on April 3. Its programme will largely focus on the issue of climate change.
Business owners, product managers, retailers and designers will join together at innov_ex 08 to discuss how the UK outdoor trade can respond to climate change and how long-term prosperity can be achieved.
OIA chairman, Frank Bennett, says: “In the last decade, the outdoor industries in the UK have dramatically changed. Once a poor relative to other leisure related sectors, they are now growing at a much faster rate.
“Specialist outdoor businesses contribute at least £1.3 billion to the economy every year and provide employment to many of thousands of people across the country.
“However, at the same time we face more challenges than ever before. There is no escaping the fact that climate change is already having an impact on our businesses.”
Confirmed speakers include: Bob Headland from the Scott Polar Research Institute, Robert Lomax, expert on breathability and nanotechnology; and Ed Douglas, climber and renowned writer on sustainable design issues. Patagonia, Polartec and MEC will also participate.
