The BMC's Environment Policy is a statement of its commitment to help reduce the impact of our activities on the environment. This states that the BMC will provide clear leadership on environmental issues through its policies, programmes and the way it conducts its business.

The BMC will also ensure that climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers understand and are enabled to take responsibility for their environmental impact through the provision of quality information and future publications.

Working through the Access, Conservation and Environment Group, the policy was drawn up over several months and was accepted by the BMC National Council in June 2007. Not only was this specialist policy drawn up but amendments were also made to the BMC core policies.

As climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers, we practise our sport on relatively untouched summits and cliffs. We have the potential to affect those environments that are so valuable to our experience. We need to be aware of, and to protect, the special features of the environment we use, whether it is cliff or ground nesting birds, arctic-alpine flora, blanket bog or the fragile montane heath on the very highest summits.

The BMC recognises that climbing, hill walking and mountaineering impact on the environment, and acknowledges responsibility to take reasonable measures to safeguard the environment for both the present and future generations. The BMC will improve its own environmental performance and provide assistance and advice to climbers, hill walkers and mountaineers on environmental issues relating to their activities. These policies will be regularly monitored and subjected to audits at appropriate intervals to ensure that the policy objectives are achieved.

For the full policy document click here.

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