Virta supports positive change with Protect our Winters

This winter Virta donates one euro to Protect our Winters (POW) from every electric vehicle charging event at POW-branded chargers in ski resorts.

First chargers will open at Ruka and Pyhä Ski Resorts in Finland. In addition, Virta encourages its partners in over 30 countries around the world to join the movement and become a winter guardian.

In winter 2020/2021 Virta collaborates with Protect our Winters in search for emission free transportation around the world. Together with its partners, POW inspires and equips outdoor communities to accelerate the transition to a carbon neutral society all around the world. Electrifying transport is one of POW’s main policy areas.

Partnership aims to raise awareness of the emission free mobility and to encourage people to positive change. As a part of the campaign actions, Virta donates one euro to Protect our Winters Finland (POW) from every electric vehicle charging event at POW -branded chargers in ski resorts. First chargers will open at Ruka and Pyhä Ski Resorts in Finland. The charging event donations are just one example of the concrete actions. In addition, Virta donates the Season Greetings funds to POW.

This is already the second winter that POW Finland and Europe’s fastest growing EV charging platform Virta join their forces.

“I’m thrilled that our partnership continues, and we can reduce the emission together also during this winter season” states Miikka Hast, the Chairman of POW Finland.

A concrete way to reduce mobility emissions

Reducing emission in mobility is POW’s focus in Europe for 2020 and 2021. Transport represents almost a quarter of Europe's greenhouse gas emissions and is the main cause of air pollution in cities. The transport sector has not seen the same gradual decline in emissions as other sectors: emissions only started to decrease in 2007 and still remain higher than in 1990. Road transport is responsible for majority of the CO2 emissions in Europe. For example, in Finland, road transport causes 94% of the total transport emissions.

“Unfortunately, winter sport enthusiastic are often part of the problem rather than part of the solution: people tend to drive to ski resorts, tracks and other winter sport locations with private vehicles,” Hast reminds.

The mission of Virta is to help to solve the climate crisis by bringing electric mobility to people’s daily life and to the energy system.

“Virta is an integral part of this change that a more sustainable future requires. Virta offers winter sports enthusiasts an easy and concrete way to reduce road transport emissions,” says Hast.

A perfect partner

According to Elias Pöyry, Deputy CEO of Virta, POW was a natural choice as a partner for Virta.

“One of the values of Virta is making things happen and work in practice. We are not the company to only talk about the disruptions, but to make them happen. By partnering with POW we are able to both raise awareness on zero emission transportation as well as participate in concrete projects to support our mission”, says Pöyry.

“Also, our company culture is strongly linked with healthy lifestyle, sports and enabling a better tomorrow in a positive and pragmatic way”, adds Pöyry.

Join the campaign

This winter season Virta encourages all its partners – especially the ones with EV chargers in ski resorts and winter holiday locations – in over 30 countries around the world to join the movement and become winter guardians.

”Virta offers over 170 000 charging points in its roaming network and every 6 seconds someone somewhere is charging in the Virta network. This means that together we can have a big impact. We challenge all our partners to join the movement, pick their concrete action and help to protect our winters together with POW”, says Pöyry.

Protect Our Winters (POW) is an organization of passionate outdoor people protecting the places and lifestyles they love from climate change. POWs message and mission are to preserve nature by turning passion for the outdoors into practical actions for climate.

For more information: www.protectourwinters.org