Protecting heritage from a changing climate

As climate change increases pressure on cultural sites and landscapes through extreme weather, flooding, fires and other natural hazards, protecting heritage also means finding ways to adapt. These challenges highlight how closely Europe’s natural and cultural heritage are connected.

Natura 2000, the EU’s network of protected areas, reflects this connection. In France’s Camargue, for example, protected wetlands and exceptional biodiversity – including one of Europe’s top breeding sites for greater flamingos – coexist with centuries-old traditions such as rice cultivation and salt production, both recognised through EU geographical indications.

EU-funded research is helping these landscapes adapt. The RescueME project, funded under Horizon Europe, works with communities in five European coastal areas – including Crete, Cinque Terre and Zadar – to develop solutions that strengthen the resilience of their cultural landscape in the face of climate change.

Giving old places a new purpose

Heritage can also become vulnerable when societal and economic changes leave historic buildings without their original function. Vacancy and neglect can gradually put their heritage value at risk. Adaptive reuse can help reverse this process, preserving the character of historic buildings while giving them new functions and keeping them part of community life.

In Rathfarnham, Ireland, the historic Castle Stables and Courtyards are being transformed into spaces for cultural, community and hospitality activities. Co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the THRIVE project shows how giving heritage a new purpose can contribute to its long-term preservation while creating new value for the local community.

Safeguarding heritage in times of conflict

Armed conflict and other types of threats can cause irreversible damage to heritage. Safeguarding it during and after armed conflicts requires both immediate protection and long-term commitment to restoration and recovery.

Europe’s recent history offers powerful examples. In Dubrovnik, Croatia, the Society of Friends of Dubrovnik Antiquities has worked for decades to safeguard the historic city, including during and after the conflicts of the 1990s. Its contribution was recognised with a 2024 European Heritage Award / Europa Nostra Award, supported by Creative Europe.

The Team Europe for Cultural Heritage in Ukraine supports 89 initiatives from EU countries and the European Commission to safeguard Ukraine’s cultural heritage from the impacts of Russia’s war of aggression – from emergency protection and recording damage to cultural sites and digitally preserving endangered heritage, to training heritage professionals and supporting restoration.