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Launch of the Heritage Adapts! Campaign

On June 4, 2026, the Heritage Adapts! campaign made its debut, marking a significant global effort aimed at safeguarding cultural heritage in the face of climate change. This initiative, recognized by the United Nations, seeks to unify stakeholders in the heritage sector under a shared mission: to ensure that at least 3,000 cultural sites and practices are equipped with climate adaptation measures by 2030.

Driven by a coalition led by Preserving Legacies, an initiative supported by the National Geographic Society, Heritage Adapts! aims to galvanize local cultural heritage stewards. The campaign provides technical guidance, local data access, and global networking opportunities crucial for effective climate adaptation.

The launch comes at a time when heritage sites are increasingly threatened by climate-related hazards. A recent UNESCO report indicates that climate risks to UNESCO World Heritage sites have escalated by 40% over the past decade, with projections suggesting that over 25% of these sites could reach potentially irreversible tipping points by 2050. Notably, this alarming data only represents a fraction of the world's heritage; many valued sites and practices are not monitored by international frameworks. This oversight compounds the problem, as cultural heritage adaptation remains insufficiently funded and overlooked in climate policies, leaving many managers without adequate resources and support. Despite the threats, cultural heritage is not just at risk; it is part of the solution—acting as a beacon of community resilience and proven strategies that remain relevant today.

With a founding coalition of over 100 organizations and cultural managers globally, Heritage Adapts! seeks to fill gaps and accelerate climate adaptation efforts across all types of cultural heritage.

As the planet races toward a 2°C increase in temperature, time is of the essence for communities—and the culture and heritage that sustain them—to adapt. The new UN Global Goal on cultural heritage adaptation holds transformative potential, but it must translate into tangible support for every cultural site and practice. Worldwide partners are urgently joining forces to leverage this pivotal moment. This shared determination drives Heritage Adapts!, according to Andrew Potts, Director of Policies at Preserving Legacies.

The initiative serves as an online action community platform built around a self-paced adaptation program that makes the process accessible regardless of starting points.

"By providing heritage guardians with a platform to share knowledge, learn, and support one another, Heritage Adapts! will help safeguard irreplaceable heritage sites and practices worldwide," asserts Ian Miller, Director of Science and Innovation at the National Geographic Society. He emphasizes the alignment of safeguarding our planet’s heritage against climate change with the mission of the National Geographic Society to illuminate and protect our world’s wonders. Protecting heritage sites from climate change is a challenge no community or nation can tackle alone. By marrying science with local wisdom, the Heritage Adapts! initiative ensures collective progress in preserving our shared human history for future generations.

Additionally, Dan Ioschpe, COP30 High-Level Climate Champion, notes the importance of culture and heritage in connecting communities to their identity, land, history, and future. He asserts that culture shapes how people comprehend risk, respond to change, and build resilience. "As highlighted at COP30, climate action starts and ends with people, and culture is among the most powerful tools for enduring change. This initiative exemplifies the strength of the climate action agenda and its alignment with the global adaptation goal as a foundation for collaborative multi-stakeholder engagement.”

Join the community and begin the adaptation journey at act.heritageadapts.org.

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