#USA #Washington #Climate Change #Cultural Heritage #Heritage Adapts!

Heritage Adapts! Campaign Launched

Today marks the launch of Heritage Adapts!, a pioneering global campaign designed to unite the heritage sector in a collective mission to combat climate change effects on cultural heritage by the year 2030. Supported by a coalition led by Preserving Legacies and the National Geographic Society, the initiative seeks to implement localized climate adaptation strategies across at least 3,000 cultural sites worldwide.

As climate risks for cultural heritage continue to escalate, the urgency for this campaign cannot be overstated. Recent reports from UNESCO reveal that climate-related dangers targeting world heritage sites have surged by 40% in just a decade. Alarmingly, by 2050, over 25% of these sites may reach irreversible tipping points, which highlights the pressing need for protective measures.

This campaign aims to fill a significant void in the current climate conversation, one where countless cherished sites and practices escape the radar of international environmental frameworks. Too often, the adaptation of cultural heritage sites to climate change remains underfunded or entirely overlooked in climate financing and policy discussions. Heritage, however, is not only at risk but also forms a part of the solution, offering resilience strategies crucial for community sustainability.

The Heritage Adapts! coalition is composed of over 100 global organizations and site managers, dedicated to bridging this gap and enhancing climate resilience across various forms of cultural heritage.

Andrew Potts, Policy Director of Preserving Legacies, highlighted the importance of the initiative: “As the world approaches a 2-degree Celsius rise in temperature, it's imperative that we assist communities, along with the culture and heritage they embody, in adapting while there is still time. The United Nations' new goal focused on cultural heritage adaptation could ignite genuine transformation, provided there’s substantive support for all sites and cultural practices.”

The campaign's essence is anchored by a robust online platform aimed at creating an action community. This platform revolves around a self-directed program that guides participants through the adaptation process, ensuring accessibility regardless of the starting point.

“This platform will empower heritage site managers to share knowledge, learn from one another, and provide mutual support, thereby protecting invaluable cultural legacies and practices from around the world,” stated Ian Miller, Chief Science and Innovation Officer at National Geographic Society.

He further remarked, “Preserving world heritage from climate change cannot be tackled by a single community or nation alone. By interlinking science with local knowledge, Heritage Adapts! stands to achieve significant progress in safeguarding our shared history for future generations.”

The initiative significantly underscores that the interplay between culture and climate resilience lies at the very heart of community identity, land, history, and future prospects. The essence that culture shapes how individuals understand risks, respond to changes, and build resilience is fundamental, as articulated by Dan Ioschpe, COP 30 Climate High-Level Champion: “As emphasized during COP30, climate action begins and ends with the people, and culture is among the most powerful tools for sustained change.”

Join the community and take part in the adaptation efforts at act.heritageadapts.org.

Media assets are available upon request.