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The Green House Network,
in a creative response to the critically important problem of global
climate change, has launched the Race to Stop Global Warming, a
high-profile and fun nationwide event designed to deliver visibility
to both the issue of global warming and to businesses committed
to a proactive response. The series of awareness-raising 8K runs
and 5K fitness walks also includes a free children’s fun run,
a toddler trot and diaper dash.
The idea for the race was prompted by Green House Network’s
belief that it is imperative for the public to be educated about
the peer-reviewed science, economic and policy analyses of global
warming as the world grapples with this tremendous environmental
threat. An educated and involved citizenry will support businesses
that actively reduce their impacts on the global climate, says Green
House Network, and their efforts will also be critical in creating
the grassroots movement needed to level the legislative playing
the field, thus encouraging greenhouse gas emission reductions economy-wide.
The first Race to Stop Global Warming, held on Earth Day 2000 in
Portland, OR, attracted over 1,000 participants, generated broad
media outreach, turned a small profit, and catalyzed a broader vision:
taking the Race to Stop Global Warming national. Following the model
of the Race for the Cure, Green House Network envisions a national
Earth Day-related run/walk focused on global warming. Its goal by
2010 is to engage thousands of racers and their families with an
event in at least 15 cities.
With national series support from Nike, Toyota and Aveda, Green
House Network is making this vision a reality. Its 2002 series included
races in Portland; Denver, CO; Seattle, WA; Minneapolis/St. Paul,
MN; and Boston, MA. For its 2003 series, it is expanding into Chicago,
IL; New York, NY; and San Francisco, CA.
A Racing Strategy
In order to accomplish its long-term goals, race organizers have
identified six major elements to its growth strategy:
* Create a professionally-organized
(zero waste and carbon-neutral) family-friendly athletic event that
provides a high-profile opportunity to demonstrate public concern
about the dangers of global climate change and the need for urgent
action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
* Highlight business leadership
and provide the broad public recognition that businesses deserve
for focusing on sustainable development including climate policies
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
* Utilize marketing opportunities
associated with the race not only to garner the support of those
within the environmental, corporate and fitness communities, but
also to expand and raise the general public’s awareness of
the problems and solutions associated with global climate change.
* Achieve an average participation
level of 2,000 to 5,000 racers within five years of each city’s
initial event.
* Create a stable source of
income for education and outreach by Green House Network and to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions in each race city.
* Strengthen and solidify a
sustained, national Earth Day-related message: the well-being of
both our children and the natural world depend on a rapid transition
to a clean energy future.
Initially, Green House Network will reinvest all net proceeds from
the Race to Stop Global Warming into race expansion efforts. When
it has developed a 15-city race series that is sustainable, it hopes
to then direct the majority of the proceeds back into race communities
through its local partner organization(s) and through small grants.
The remainder of the net income will be used to support race infrastructure
at Green House Network and to foster its core mission: public education
about both the science and solutions posed by global climate change.
For more information about the Race to Stop Global Warming, including
dates for its 2003 series events, call 866-STOP-CO2 (786-7262) or
visit www.racetostop
globalwarming.org.
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