The ACC's Statement of Environment Values and Principles
As Canada’s national mountain organization, The Alpine Club of Canada
(ACC) promotes mountaineering while being committed to conservation of
mountain environments. As ACC members we recognize that access to the
mountains obligates us to understand and protect these unique
environments. To this end, we, ACC members, are guided by the following
environmental values and principles of action.
Our Values
Leadership: We believe that we must act as stewards of the integrity of mountain environments and seek the knowledge and understanding required to do so effectively and responsibly.
Responsibility: We believe that we are accountable for our impacts on the mountain environments we travel through.
Human Development: We believe that access to mountain environments is essential to the full development of the human spirit, and that such access should not be unduly constrained, except where it is essential for the protection of these environments.
Sustainability: We believe that future generations should have access to similar experiences and personal challenges as those we seek in the mountains, and that we have an obligation to protect their interests.
Culture: We believe that communities and cultures that live within mountain environments deserve our understanding and respect.
Our Principles of Action
We will act to
ensure that our activities in the mountains are carried out in
accordance with our values. We will utilize “leave no trace” practices.
We will act on our individual and collective responsibility to ensure that this standard of practice is met.
We will act as
stewards of the mountains, seeking to reduce human impacts that
threaten the integrity and sustainability of mountain environments.
We will act to
increase our knowledge and understanding of mountain environments, and
our impacts upon them, so as to inform and guide our mountain practices
and stewardship efforts.