International Workshop on Cultural Heritage and Climate Change
More than 70 international experts from 42 countries across the world, gathered for an in-depth reflection over two days to consider ways to measure cultural heritage in the context of climate change – both with regard to the significant threat that climate change poses for all types of tangible and intangible cultural heritage as well as natural heritage. UNESCO organized an International Workshop on Cultural Heritage and Climate Change with the support of the European Union in the framework of the EU-UNESCO programme “Advancing evidence-based policies and actions, and supporting policy making to enhance the contribution of creative sectors and industries to sustainable development” in the context of the UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators programme.
Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, delivered the keynote address, underscoring the need to protect cultural heritage from growing climate threats and to leverage cultural knowledge, especially from local and farming communities, for climate action. He stressed that the greatest challenge is psychological and ethical: fostering global stewardship grounded in cultural understanding and intergenerational responsibility.
“We lack appreciation for culture as a gift to future generations.”
Jeffrey Sachs, Director, Center for Sustainable Development in the Earth Institute - Columbia University
As the impacts of climate change intensify, the urgency of protecting cultural heritage and recognizing the vital role of culture in climate adaptation and sustainable development has never been greater. The workshop provided a valuable platform for the exchange of ideas on effective measurement approaches, highlighted concrete examples of culture’s contribution to climate action, and explored pathways for integrating culture more systematically into climate-related policies and indicators particularly as a way to contribute to related processes under the UNFCCC on the Global Goals for Adaptation (GGA) Indicators for a GGA Target on cultural heritage as well as the elaboration of indicators to assess loss and damage under the UNFCCC Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) for Loss and Damage that also includes cultural heritage.
The international experts were those from the UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators Global Expert Facility, the UNFCCCGGA Indicators Expert Group for Cultural Heritage, the UNFCCC WIM secretariat, UNDRR, IPCC, and the Advisory Bodies to the World Heritage Committee.
The workshop was opened by Mr Lazare Eloundou Assomo, Director of the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, who expressed sincere gratitude to the European Union for its support and calling for enhanced evidence-based approaches. He was followed by the Ambassador of Sweden to UNESCO, H.E. Ms. Helena Sångeland, the Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates, H.E. Mr Ali Abdulla Juma Alhaj Al Alí, and the Ambassador of Brazil, H.E. Ms. Paula Alves de Souza, who each reaffirmed the vital importance of placing culture at the heart of climate action in their opening remarks and emphasized the need for science- and data-driven solutions, highlighting the value of the UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators in supporting informed policy-making and systemic change and further drew attention to the growing global recognition of the link between cultural heritage and climate resilience, welcoming efforts such as the Group of Friends for Culture-Based Climate Action. Along with the European Union, the Swedish International Development Agency has generously supported the implementation of the UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators in a number of countries and cities.
During the two-day workshop, several roundtables were held to discuss why measuring culture in climate change and what to measure as well as to reflect on the ongoing international efforts and initiatives regarding the measurement of Culture in Climate Change. The development of Indicators for cultural heritage under the UNFCCC process for the GGA; the indicators for loss and damage related to the establishment of the Loss and Damage Fund under the UNFCCC WIM for Loss and Damage; the existing indicators related to SDG 13 of the 2030 Agenda along with the existing indicator 3 under the UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators framework, the UNDRRs Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction that includes cultural heritage in climate related disasters; and the UNESCO Policy Document on Climate Action for World Heritage were among the frameworks referenced during the discussions.
“Only half of reporting countries currently track cultural heritage losses—this gap must be closed.”
Animesh Kumar, Head UNDRR Bonn Office and UNFCCC GGA Expert
“Culture must be at the core of the science of climate change.”
Andrew Okem, Head of Science, IPCC Working Group II Technical Support Unit.
The experts concluded welcoming both qualitative and quantitative indicators, highlighting the importance of anchoring climate action in sustainable development more broadly as well as ensuring inclusive and strengthened governance for cultural heritage on the one hand, and on the other, emphasizing the need for cultural heritage to be integrated in NAPs, and NDCs and in the Disaster Risk Reduction strategies at different levels. The discussions held during the workshop are summarized in the report available [here]. These exchanges will help ensure that the UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators framework effectively supports countries and cities in measuring culture’s contribution to climate action, while aligning with existing frameworks and targets, including the UNFCCC GGA Indicators.
The workshop was closed by H.E. Ms. Monique Van Daalen, Ambassador of the Netherlands to UNESCO, who reflected on the urgent link between climate change and cultural preservation and commended UNESCO for facilitating the dialogue, underscoring the Netherlands’ strong commitment to safeguarding heritage as a means of building resilience. We are grateful for the support of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators programme.
“Heritage and culture and climate change is not just about stopping damage to heritage activities — it’s about showing how heritage can actively contribute to reducing the impact of climate change.”
Mr. Simon Ellis – UNESCO Culture|2030 Indicators Facility International Expert.
Summary Report
Download the summary report.
Culture 2030 Indicators website
World Heritage Centre - Climate Change and World Heritage
UNESCO Policy Document on Climate Action for World Heritage
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