Tackling climate change
Climate change is the biggest threat to nature and the historic environment. Find out how we're tackling the challenges it brings to protect places of nature, beauty and history.
Climate change adaptation guidance
We've worked in partnership with other heritage organisations to create guidance on what can be done to help historic sites adapt to a changing climate.
This guidance aims to help people working in heritage make decisions in the face of increasingly serious climate hazards, and adopt the measures needed to make the places they care for more resilient to climate change.
The guidance is split into sections by theme. Each section contains chapters on different topics with an overview, information on relevant climate hazards and their potential impact, as well as climate change adaptation options for different sites and activities. There are also case studies, showing how teams have already begun to adapt to climate change, and information on how and when adaptation measures should be introduced and the permissions required for this.
What does the guidance cover?
The guidance sections we've published so far contain the following chapters.
- Archaeology: archaeological earthworks, buried archaeological remains, and waterlogged archaeological remains
- Buildings: historic building fabric, rainwater goods, roofless ruins and standing masonry
- Infrastructure: paths, and bridges, culverts and tunnels
- Places: wildfires
- Water: rivers, water features, and water sourcing and efficiency
- Collections and interiors: photographs, paper and books
- Gardens and parks: cultivated plants, trees in the designed landscape, lawns and grass paths
- People and visitor activity: higher temperatures and wetter weather.
How can I access the guidance?
You can read the guidance on the International National Trusts Organisation (INTO) website. Our 'Introduction to climate change adaptation', explaining the main themes and approaches to climate change adaptation, is a useful place to start.
We’re continuously updating the guidance with more material, including new research and information on best practice, so keep checking in for the latest version.
How has the guidance been developed?
This guidance has been developed with support from Cadw, Department for Communities, Northern Ireland, Historic Environment Scotland, Historic England, English Heritage Trust and National Trust for Scotland.
Climate change hazard map
We've developed a hazard map that illustrates the threats climate change poses and highlights ways to tackle them. It's the first map of its kind that collates and plots data on climate-related events such as flooding and coastal erosion. The map will help us and other organisations identify the hazard level facing countryside places, monuments, coastlines and historical sites in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. It can also be used to compare current and future climate conditions with 5km hex grids plotting the threat level from one to five.
Our partners
Cadw works to protect the historic buildings and structures, the landscapes and heritage sites of Wales, so that the public can visit them, enjoy them and understand their significance.
The Department delivers a wide range of services to the public which impacts lives to support people, build communities and shape places.
English Heritage cares for over 400 historic buildings, monuments and sites across England.
Historic England is the government’s statutory adviser on the historic environment, championing historic places and helping people to understand, value and care for them.
Historic Environment Scotland is the lead public body established to investigate, care for and promote Scotland’s historic environment.
Scotland's largest member organisation protecting Scottish wildlife, gardens and glens, castles, battlefields and islands.