UIAA publishes New Declaration on Hiking, Climbing and Mountaineering

The UIAA – International Climbing and Mountaineering Federation – is delighted to announce the publication of its new declaration on hiking, climbing and mountaineering.

The declaration was officially approved at the 2024 UIAA General Assembly in Malta and has been conceived to exist in a number of different formats:

• (Download) The full declaration as a PDF file
• (Download) A poster format identifying the declaration’s nine basic norms
• (Coming soon) A digital format on the UIAA website where not only is the entire document available to view but its individual chapters will feature live case studies where the UIAA identifies best practices in support of the declaration’s messages.

The UIAA Mountaineering Commission was tasked by the UIAA Executive Board to draft this new Declaration as the previous version (Tyrol Declaration 2002 required updating). The Mountaineering Commission was supported in the development and delivery of this new Declaration by a number of other UIAA commissions as well as the UIAA Executive Committee and Management Board.

Greg Moseley, UIAA Mountaineering Commission President: “It is hoped that the new Declaration will provide the basis for a number of initiatives planned for the future, notably providing a platform for views and opinions on matters mountaineering and climbing. In this way, the Declaration will be a living document reflecting the views of mountaineers around the world.”

The purpose of the new declaration is twofold:

• To lay out the generally accepted norms for behaviour that the UIAA considers optimal. This includes the ethics and style with which we climb and the environmental and social considerations that we should be aware of.
• To clarify the best practice for climbers and mountaineers from a mountaineering viewpoint. This particularly refers to the style of rock climbs and ascents of “alpine” peaks.

As the declaration introduction identifies: “These are a set of recommendations and norms, rather than rules that will hopefully resonate with climbers and mountaineers worldwide.”

These norms are the following:

• We report the style by which we climb with honesty.
• We accept other people’s styles when different from our own.
• We will not harm the experience of the others.
• We consider the effect on others before taking risks.
• We help others in need, even at the expense of our own goals.
• We respect the natural and human mountain environment.
• We recognise climate change and seek to reduce our impact.
• We adhere to local regulations and respect local communities and cultures.
• We support the right of access to the wilderness with responsibility.

Background Information

The 2002 Tyrol Declaration was an excellent document that has served the UIAA and the mountaineering and climbing community very well over the last 22 years and many of the maxims included in that document are still very pertinent and applicable today.

But the world has changed quite dramatically over the intervening period and climbing and mountaineering have changed with it. The developments include the rise of sport and indoor competition climbing, the rapid development of the commercial outfitters guiding clients up major peaks in the greater ranges and the influence of the internet, apps and social media that have revolutionized the availability of information and changed trends. The influence of these developments is being felt worldwide.

One of the biggest developments is climate change. Sustainability guides us all at the UIAA. This is not only about protecting mountain ecosystems but supporting the well-being of local communities and those who depend on climbing and mountaineering for their livelihood.

It is about maximizing the positive environmental, social, and economic impacts associated with climbing and mountaineering, to ensure that our sport can thrive and continue to be enjoyed by current and future generations.

Mountaineering practices vary around the world from country to country and culture to culture. None of these variations are right or wrong and are usually simply differences in emphasis.

Climbing and mountaineering can generate positive impacts, supporting peace building, health and well-being, promoting cross-cultural awareness and understanding, fostering pride in cultural traditions and supporting heritage building. It can also help avoid depopulation and urban relocation by creating local jobs and livelihood opportunities, and increase visitor awareness and appreciation of natural, cultural, and historical values and assets in mountains.

It is hoped that this Declaration will contribute to the foundation that binds mountaineers together across the world.

Assets

UIAA declaration (full document)
UIAA declaration (website page)

As detailed above, the UIAA will regularly promote stories, initiatives and projects which align with the principles and messages of the declaration. UIAA member associations are encouraged to share the declaration and to support translations of the document.

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