Boosting heritage adaptation to climate change through climate literacy

This research uses systematic reviews and two in-depth African case studies that include workshops, key-informant interviews, and field observation to explore climate literacy entry points for heritage adaptation planning.
Project status
Ongoing
Departments
International

Climate action is a high skill, high knowledge priority for global heritage organisations and will be increasingly important for heritage managers and heritage-dependent communities. Yet, we know very little about feasible adaptation options for heritage globally, and how to minimise loss and damage of heritage values. Climate change adaptation for heritage can be enhanced through improving climate literacy tailored to adaptation capability needs. However, climate literacy is unequally distributed globally and the role of climate literacy in support of heritage adaptation remains unexplored. This research uses systematic reviews and two in-depth African case studies that include workshops, key-informant interviews, and field observation to explore climate literacy entry points for heritage adaptation planning. The research holds potential to uncover new insights on what is required for transformative adaptation, and adding to debates on what and how local and universal heritage values can be preserved for future generations.

Research Team: Dr Nicholas Simpson, Overseas Development Institute; Professor Joanne Clarke, University of East Anglia; Dr Moira Fitzpatrick, National Museums and Monuments; Dr Wendy Foden, South African National Park

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