The rise in temperature is having a huge impact on the world’s mountains. How can we adapt to the changes, and could we reduce the global impact of our adventures? These issues were up for debate at Sheffield Adventure Film Festival earlier this year. A number of ideas were generated, and all these suggestions will be discussed by the BMC’s Sustainability Working Group over the coming months.

Changes in rainfall, melting permafrost and extreme weather are endangering the survival of mountain people and wildlife, and affecting Alpine climbing, European ski touring, and even the state of our limestone crags.

Climbers and walkers are in the best position to witness and record these changes. However, in a recent article for Summit magazine, Kevin Anderson, professor of energy and climate change at Manchester University, argued that climbers and mountaineers are generally contributing to the problem more than they are helping:

“We no longer get to the crag, the hills or the occasional alpine trip by cycling, the train, thumbing a lift, or cramming four sweaty oiks and their kit into a mini clubman,” he wrote. “Worse still, the crag is often now far beyond the local outcrop, it’s a drive to Malham, a motorway marathon to do the Three Peaks or a bit of Munro bagging, a long weekend in Calpe, a week at Smith Rocks or a rapid ascent of some alpine peak.”

Issues of concern raised at the Ben Winston Memorial Debate included fuel poverty and production, transport and building energy, diet, agriculture, rainfall and flooding, and changes in the boundaries of fragile ecosystems.

Everyone agreed that we can’t sit idly anymore. We all need to take individual action if we want to see solutions. Millions of people need to wake up and agitate the absolute changes required. Being ‘a bit more efficient’ won’t work. Do your actions match your beliefs? Could you reduce your personal waste and impact?

WATCH: Tremfest 2016, the BMC's crag revival festival on BMC TV

What can the BMC do?

Direct action

More campaigning. Advertise more sustainable travel options and trips, publicise more local adventures, encourage car share options, and ‘green up’ climbing huts. Increase the pressure to get climate change higher up the political agenda.

Story telling

Publish more stories about what climbers and walkers are trying to do about climate change, including more short films on BMC TV.

Get connected

Build links with Sheffield Climate Alliance and like-minded organisations, and work with the European Outdoor Group, which represents the European outdoor industry, on issues with outdoor gear manufacturing and retail. 

Throwaway society

We can encourage members to go for quality products that last instead of cheap throwaway items whenever possible, and provide the facts about how long it’s safe to keep gear going.

Sustainable adventures

We can put together ‘Best Practice for BMC Expeditions’ information, covering aspects such as travel, behaviour and sustainable practices.

Let’s talk

Finally, we can roll out this debate at other mountaineering film festivals and sporting events. 

READ:

Mountains matter: stand up against climate change

Meltdown: Free Ben Winston memorial debate at ShAFF

The BMC is a member of theclimatecoalition.org

Ben Winston was a Sheffield climber, writer, photographer and filmmaker who was passionate about adventure and about climate change – read more about his life here.

We want to say a big thanks to every BMC member who continues to support us through the Coronavirus crisis.

From weekly Facebook Lives and GB Climbing home training videos, to our access team working to re-open the crags and fight for your mountain access, we couldn’t do it without you.

Did you know that we've just launched a new U27 membership offer for just £1.50 / month? And with full membership from £2.50 / month, it's never been easier to join and support our work: 

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/join-the-bmc-for-1-month-U27-membership

« Back