Heritage Adapts!
The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident. Heatwaves, droughts, heavy rainfall and flooding are affecting not only people and nature, but also our heritage. Historic buildings, landscapes, archaeological sites, ancient trees, traditional customs and local knowledge are coming under increasing pressure. To tackle these challenges, the international campaign Heritage Adapts! was officially launched on 4 June.
The campaign brings together heritage communities, managers and organisations from around the world around a single common goal: to better prepare heritage for the impacts of climate change by 2030.
It is estimated that one in six cultural heritage sites worldwide is threatened by climate change. Nature reserves and historic landscapes are also increasingly facing drought, erosion, wildfires or flooding. At the same time, heritage can also help us find solutions. Many communities possess centuries-old knowledge of water management, land use, construction and coping with extreme weather conditions. Today, that knowledge can once again provide inspiration for making our environment climate-resilient.
Heritage Adapts! aims not only to raise awareness among heritage communities of the challenges they face, but also to support them in taking steps towards climate adaptation. Through an online platform, participants can share experiences, seek advice and learn from examples from both the UK and abroad. In addition, the campaign provides access to practical tools and climate data that help to better identify the potential impacts of climate change on a heritage site or heritage practice.
A key part of the campaign is The Pledge: a collective commitment by participants to implement at least one concrete climate adaptation measure for their heritage site, landscape or cultural practice by 2030.
Just as the Water&Land project demonstrated that intangible heritage can serve as a source of inspiration for addressing contemporary challenges relating to water, biodiversity and soil fertility, Heritage Adapts! Heritage Adapts! aims not only to protect heritage, but also to actively utilise it as a source of knowledge and resilience. Making heritage knowledge visible, linking it to current challenges and making it accessible to those who wish to put it into practice – that is precisely what Heritage Adapts! aims to achieve on a global scale.
By not only protecting heritage but also actively using it as a source of knowledge and resilience, Heritage Adapts! aims to contribute to a future in which communities are better prepared for a changing climate. You can find more information about the campaign and how to get involved at heritageadapts.org.
