Climate change is a global problem which requires a global response. At the end of every year, governments from around the world meet at the UNFCCC Conference of Parties (or COP) to agree targets and work together for climate action. Increasingly, these conversations are acknowledging the importance of cultural heritage, reflecting the longstanding ICOMOS belief that culture is integral to meaningful and human-centred climate action. This belief lies at the heart of an exciting new ICOMOS-based project which is bringing together heritage professionals from around the world to share experiences and work together for long-term, sustainable change.

Concept

Launched in early 2023, the Preserving Legacies Project is a collaboration between ICOMOS and the National Geographic Society. It aims to empower every community to safeguard their cultural and natural heritage against climate change impacts. Led by National Geographic Explorer Dr Victoria Herrmann and with a team including Dr William Megarry (ICOMOS Climate Action Working Group) and Mr Andrew Potts (Climate Heritage Network), the project is hosted by the ICOMOS International Secretariat and is working closely with ICOMOS National and International Scientific Committees including Bangladesh, Ireland, Jordan, the Philippines, Tunisia and USA.

Utilising the scientific expertise of the ICOMOS community, the project has been developing training resources for climate action and applying these at partner led and community focused workshops at World Heritage properties in Jordan and the Philippines.

Call for new partners

The Preserving Legacies project has just been awarded funding for a further year and plans to further support existing partners to develop climate action plans and to expand its efforts to include new sites.

Application deadline: 20 January 2024

For more information, please refer to https://www.icomos.org/en/focus/climate-change/133856-the-preserving-legacies-project-year-one-review-and-call-for-new-partners-sites