Joe Houde  - President, North Country Climate Change Alliance

Joe’s passion for environmental awareness led him to develop and present a three-part educational series titled State of Earth’s Environment 2025.

Initially hosted live on Zoom and now available on YouTube, the series offers a powerful, science-based exploration of the planetary boundaries framework and its implications for the future of life on Earth. With clarity and urgency, Joe takes viewers through the history of Earth’s climate, the current breaches in planetary systems, and the pathways toward sustainable and equitable solutions.  Each episode builds on the last— beginning with the fundamentals of Earth systems and global heating, progressing into the challenges of biodiversity loss, freshwater use, nutrient cycles, and ending with a call to action for communities to adopt resilience strategies and improve their local Climate Action Plans CAPs). Houde’s message is not only rooted in data but in empowerment: the belief that local actions, guided by science, can drive global change.

With more than 100 hours invested in research, development, and public presentation, Joe’s series has become a model of public climate communication. John Watson, who submitted the nomination, stated, “I’ve seen thousands of briefings in my 45 years in industry, the Navy, and academia—Joe’s work stands out as one of the very best.”

Joe’s efforts align closely with FWSA’s Sustainability Awareness Initiative and reflect the core mission of FWSA partner Protect Our Winters—to educate, advocate, and inspire action. His work provides a compelling foundation for environmental literacy in the ski community and beyond.

As the climate crisis deepens, Joe Houde reminds us that understanding the science is just the beginning. What matters most is what we choose to do with that knowledge—and his work is already helping communities do just that.