The British Mountaineering Council Launches Ambitious Climate and Sustainability Action Plan

The newly launched roadmap underscores the BMC's commitment to mitigating the impacts of climate change, which threatens physical activity and the extensive health and happiness benefits that it brings.

In 2023, the BMC committed to eliminating its contribution to GHG emissions by 2040, a decade ahead of the UK Government's 2050 target. Today, the organisation has demonstrated how this will be achieved through significant changes in operations, reducing emissions, and investing in nature-based solutions to account for any residual emissions.

The BMC’s vision is clear: to become a healthy, green, diverse, and inclusive organisation that inspires members while ensuring the protection and enhancement of uplands, moorlands, and mountain environments for future generations. As a member of the UN Sport for Climate Action Framework, the UN Sport for Nature, and Race to Zero, the organisation has already demonstrated its commitment to creating a greener tomorrow.

Dr Catherine Flitcroft, the BMC’s Head of Access and Conservation said: “With its Climate and Sustainability Action Plan, the BMC is not only setting ambitious targets for itself but also leading the outdoor community towards a more sustainable future.

“By integrating sustainability into every aspect of our operations and inspiring our community of members to take action, the BMC will play it’s crucial role in tackling the climate crisis and protecting the hill and mountain environments we all cherish.

“With this roadmap, we acknowledge that further understanding of our impact and associated actions need to be undertaken, and we hope are action plan, leads us to open up conversation on how we can lead more active, healthy and sustainable lives.”

The Climate and Sustainability Action Plan

The Climate and Sustainability Action Plan is a comprehensive roadmap that addresses environmental and climate concerns, outlining what the BMC and the wider climbing community can and should do to contribute to a healthier and more sustainable society.

Key commitments include:

1. Reducing operational emissions through energy efficiency, renewable energy use, reduced travel, and low-carbon travel options.

2. Investing in landscape restoration by supporting projects that store carbon and meet net-zero targets, enabling members to contribute to landscape restoration.

3. Ensuring BMC-owned crags and lands are managed to sequester emissions, revitalise habitats, and protect species.

4. Influencing sustainable practices, encouraging members, partners, and stakeholders to measure and reduce their carbon emissions and adopt sustainable practices.

5. Promoting the role of climbers, hill walkers, and mountaineers in increasing awareness of climate impacts and supporting affected upland communities.

6. Ensuring climate considerations are integral to all BMC policies, activities, communications, and events.

The Action Plan is structured around seven key themes, each encompassing short, medium, and long-term actions:

1. Governance

2. BMC Office and Operations

3. Sustainable Events and Meetings

4. Sustainable Competition Climbing Events

5. Sustainable Partnerships and Projects

6. Educating and Influencing Members

7. Supporting Nature-Based Solutions

The BMC will continuously review and improve the Action Plan, monitoring progress and addressing new circumstances. Reviews will occur every two years, starting in 2025, to ensure the plan remains relevant and effective.

2023 GHG Emissions report

Since 2019, the BMC has also been measuring its GHG emissions (scope1, scope 2 and scope 3) and has now published its 3rd report which looks at our 2023 emissions.

The report finds that the majority of BMC’s emissions came from Business Travel and Purchased Goods and Services, whilst travel by spectators / volunteers to BMC events (c.6,725 attendees across 96 events) has reduced slightly.  85% of our business travel emissions come from air travel, with both activity and spend data being analysed.

In addition, homeworking emissions make up 23.3 t CO2e, around 32% of the total emissions for Employee Commuting.

Overall, BMC’s emissions have risen by 310.6 t CO2e from 2022 to 2023, a 37.7% increase. This is a result of more detailed recording of emissions data and the inclusion of the GB Climbing team’s footprint for the year (including volunteers and coaches).  It is hoped that as the Climate and Sustainability Action Plan is rolled out, we will gradually see a reduction in emissions year on year.