REI Co-op Climate Policy Platform

At REI, our mission is to connect every person to the power of the outdoors and engage them in the fight to protect it. The future of outdoor recreation and a healthy outdoors relies, in large part, on effectively tackling climate change and transitioning to a decarbonized economy that supports community wellbeing.

For nearly 90 years, we’ve put the planet first. REI was an early and outspoken advocate within the recreation industry for climate action. We’ve actively worked to reduce our own greenhouse gas emissions since 2006 and achieved climate neutrality in our operations in 2020. We’ve been a leader in green buildings, renewable energy, industry-wide sustainability standards, carbon sequestration, public lands advocacy, and outdoor stewardship.

But this is not enough. 

As the nation endures intensifying weather events that disrupt lives, livelihoods and our ability to enjoy time outside, we are catalyzing cooperative climate action to reduce our own impact, move our industry in the right direction and push harder than ever for government policies that advance a climate-resilient economy. To do this, REI collaborates with other business and community leaders to set bold climate goals and craft new models. Through the Cooperative Action Network, we engage our members to advocate for policies that ensure we transition our economies to support individual, community and ecological wellbeing.

We take action and advocate for policies across the following arenas: 

• Natural Climate Solutions: Nature is one of our best climate solutions. Our lands and waters can provide substantial emissions reductions and effectively absorb carbon. We support policies that advance reforestation, improve forest and wetland management, invest in community forestry across rural and urban environments, reward private landowner conservation, and support landscape-scale carbon sequestration.  
• Circular Economy: Most products in today’s linear economy take a one-way trip from manufacture to customer to landfill. But some companies, like REI, are making products that last longer, offering recommerce solutions to keep them in use, and expanding the range of recycling solutions. Policies that support recycled or low-carbon materials and well-tailored product end-of-use responsibility are starting to bend our linear economy into something more sustaining and circular.   
• Clean Energy, for Everyone: Across the domestic and international stage, limited access to affordable clean energy is a key obstacle to the future we seek. We support policies that reduce barriers to clean energy, invest in community-based renewable infrastructure and accelerate innovative work in clean energy procurement. 
• People-powered and Low-Carbon Transportation: Transportation accounts for 15% of global carbon emissions and is the largest source of U.S. emissions. Advances in clean ocean freight and trucking can support corporate goals to decarbonize supply chains, while investing in clean transportation infrastructure, including bicycling, walking, mass transit, and vehicle electrification make our communities better, healthier places to live. 
• Frontline Community Decision-making: Climate change disproportionately harms the most vulnerable among us—rural communities, low-income communities, and communities of color. The benefits and costs of the clean energy transition must be shared fairly across society. We support policy approaches that empower impacted communities to shape issues that will affect their lives.  
• Effective Carbon Markets: Well-designed carbon markets can efficiently scale climate solutions by internalizing pollution costs, creating a level playing field between leaders and laggards, and making certain carbon reductions financeable while mobilizing demand for solutions. These markets are transparent, scalable and accurately account for and price carbon. REI supports several emerging models for scalable carbon markets as well as tax incentives, rebates and other solutions that propel companies to reduce carbon in their operations and supply chains.  

REI’s climate policy agenda intentionally drives multiple co-benefits. These policies create jobs, increase access to the outdoors, improve public health and community well-being, and counteract longstanding inequities. 

While the headlines on climate may sometimes feel dire, we at REI continue to feel cause for hope. That hope is cooperative action. We must maintain the momentum as more segments of society take action to secure the future health of our planet. We will keep seeking opportunities to work with elected officials, community leaders, businesses and our members to speak with one voice for bold action that puts communities and the planet first. We hope you will join us in this fight.

About the REI Co-op