Climate & Biodiversity Response

Climate change, induced by human activity, is driving significant adverse change to most ecosystems and societies across the globe. Those of us who have been to the Alps or the Greater Ranges can see it in shrinking glaciers. The impact of climate change and biodiversity loss is also evident in Ireland’s mountains. Most of the peatland habitats that are prevalent in Ireland’s uplands are in poor condition, which is detrimental to biodiversity and is increasing Ireland’s carbon emissions.

Mountaineering Ireland’s strategic plan for 2022-2025 aims to “Support our members in responding to the climate crisis through increasing understanding, personal action, advocacy and partnership”. The Mountaineering Ireland Board has approved the establishment of a Climate Response Working Group. As climate change and biodiversity loss are interlinked, the group will consider our response to both.

The Working Group will generate a programme of action, set in the context of the mountains and other outdoor places we depend upon for our activities. We will update this page as that work progresses.

One early action in this area is a Mountaineering Ireland volunteer programme to assist Wicklow Mountains National Park with a peatland restoration project in the Wicklow Mountains. To find out more about this read this article from the Irish Mountain Log, or email helen@mountaineering.ie.