Cultural heritage at risk from climate change

Last updated

Many cultural heritage sites are suffering damage or loss due to anthropogenic climate change. Causes include sea rises and coastal erosion, the increased incidence of extreme weather events such as storms and cyclones, changes in rainfall patterns, extreme periods of drought, and bushfires.

Contents

Climate change is an increasing focus of cultural heritage organisations such as the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). [1] UNESCO's List of World Cultural Heritage in Danger includes "threatening impacts of climatic, geological or other environmental factors" as a category of threat. [2]

Sites at risk of loss or damage due to climate change are often also at risk from other social and political factors, such as war, land use and agricultural practices, and tourism.

Africa

Sea level rise and coastal erosion are causing loss of structures and archaeological material in the historic port city of Kilwa Kisiwani. Portions of some monuments are already underwater. Mitigation strategies under development include engineered structures (gabions) to minimise the effect of wave action. [3]

Americas

Chan Chan archeological site, Peru

The ancient city site of Chan Chan has experienced both more extreme rainfall and periods of drought, due to El Nino weather patterns. This area has always experienced extreme weather events, but the frequency of events is increasing. Rising groundwater is destabilising building foundations. [4] Mitigation has included strategies to control the rising water table, stabilisation of perimeter walls, architectural documentation, local skills development and awareness-building campaigns, and a disaster preparedness plan. [5]

Ivvavik /Vuntut/Herschel Island (Qikiqtaruk), Canada

Due to decrease of sea areas and higher exposure to storms, the 19th century whalers' settlement of Hershel Island had to be relocated inland to keep the buildings dry and avoid flooding of low lying structures. If coastal erosion continues another relocation might be needed and lead to the abandonment of some structures. The deterioration of the permafrost compromises graves structures and leads to buried caskets tumbling and breakage. (Case studies on climate change and World Heritage, Unesco) [6]

Asia Pacific

Mosque City of Bagerhat, Bangladesh

Building structures in the Mosque City of Bagerhat are decaying due to rising water and soil salinity. Salt crystals that become embedded in the rock expand in the presence of moisture and hasten the disintegration and weathering of stone buildings. [7]

Rapa Nui, Polynesia

Also known as Easter Island, Rapa Nui has been a World Heritage Site since 1995. The stone statues on Rapa Nui are threatened by sea level rises and coastal damage from storms. [8] An increase in ocean swells and wave heights causes undercutting and erosion of rock faces and loss of archaeological remains. [9]

Europe

Coastal Great Britain

Increased coastal erosion and rising sea levels threaten several historic castles in Great Britain, including Hurst Castle in Hampshire, Tintagel in Cornwall, Piel Castle in Cumbria, Bayard's Cove Fort in Devon, Garrison Walls in the Isles of Scilly and Calshot Castle in Southampton. According to site managers English Heritage, it will be necessary to repair walls and improve defences against storms to prevent further damage. [10]

Edinburgh, Scotland

Increased rainfall and extreme weather events are also increasing the risk of flooding and slope instability in the old city of Edinburgh. Annual rainfall has increased 13% since 1970. Increased wetting and drying is eroding the sandstone used to build Edinburgh Castle and eroding the volcanic rock on which it is built. [11]

Venice, Italy

Rising sea water and inundation threaten the city of Venice and its lagoon. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Kenya</span> Geographical features of Kenya

The Geography of Kenya is diverse, varying amongst its 47 counties. Kenya has a coastline on the Indian Ocean, which contains swamps of East African mangroves. Inland are broad plains and numerous hills. Kenya borders South Sudan to the northwest, Uganda to the west, Somalia to the east, Tanzania to the south, and Ethiopia to the north.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geography of Senegal</span>

Senegal is a coastal West African nation located 14 degrees north of the equator and 14 degrees west of the Prime Meridian. The country's total area is 196,190 km2 of which 192,000 km2 is land and 4,190 km2 is water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chan Chan</span> City of the pre-Columbian era in South America

Chan Chan was the largest city of the pre-Columbian era in South America. It is now an archeological site in the department of La Libertad five kilometers (3.1 mi) west of Trujillo, Peru.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilwa Kisiwani</span> Island, hamlet and an archaeological Swahili city-state site of Lindi Region, Tanzania.

Kilwa Kisiwani is an island, national historic site, and hamlet community located in the township of Kilwa Masoko, the district seat of Kilwa District in the Tanzanian region of Lindi Region in southern Tanzania. Kilwa Kisiwani is the largest of the nine hamlets in the town Kilwa Masoko and is also the least populated hamlet in the township with fewer than 1,000 residents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kilwa District, Lindi</span> District of Lindi Region, Tanzania

Kilwa District is one of six administrative districts of Lindi Region in Tanzania. The District covers an area of 15,000 km2 (5,800 sq mi). The district is comparable in size to the land area of the nation state of East Timor. Kilwa district is bordered to the north by Rufiji District in Pwani Region, to the east by the Indian Ocean, to the south by the Lindi District, Nachingwea District together with Ruangwa District, and to the west by the Liwale District. The district borders every other district in Lindi Region except Lindi Municipal District. The district seat (capital) is the town of Kilwa Masoko. The district is named after the medieval Swahili city state of Kilwa Kisiwani. According to the 2012 census, the district has a total population of 190,744.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rapa Nui National Park</span> World Heritage Site in Easter Island

Rapa Nui National Park is a national park and UNESCO World Heritage Site located on Easter Island, Chile. Rapa Nui is the Polynesian name of Easter Island; its Spanish name is Isla de Pascua. The island is located in the southeastern Pacific Ocean, at the southeastern extremity of the Polynesian Triangle. The island was taken over by Chile in 1888. Its fame and World Heritage status arise from the 887 extant stone statues known by the name "moai", whose creation is attributed to the early Rapa Nui people who inhabited the island starting between 300 and 1200 AD. Much of the island has been declared as Rapa Nui National Park which, on 22 March 1996, UNESCO designated a World Heritage Site under cultural criteria (i), (iii), & (v). Rapa Nui National Park is now under the administrative control of the Ma´u Henua Polynesian Indigenous Community, which is the first autonomous institute on the island. The indigenous Rapa Nui people have regained authority over their ancestral lands and are in charge of the management, preservation and protection of their patrimony. On the first of December 2017, the ex-President Michelle Bachelet returned ancestral lands in the form of the Rapa Nui National Park to the indigenous people. For the first time in history, the revenue generated by the National Park is invested in the island and used to conserve the natural heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environment of Australia</span>

The Australian environment ranges from virtually pristine Antarctic territory and rainforests to degraded industrial areas of major cities. Forty distinct ecoregions have been identified across the Australian mainland and islands. Central Australia has a very dry climate. The interior has a number of deserts while most of the coastal areas are populated. Northern Australia experiences tropical cyclones while much of the country is prone to periodic drought. This dry and warm environment and exposure to cyclones, makes Australia particularly vulnerable to climate change -- with some areas already experiencing increases in wildfires and fragile ecosystems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Heart of Neolithic Orkney</span> UNESCO World Heritage Site in Orkney, Scotland

Heart of Neolithic Orkney is a group of Neolithic monuments on the Mainland of the Orkney Islands, Scotland. The name was adopted by UNESCO when it proclaimed these sites as a World Heritage Site in December 1999.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orongo</span> Stone village and ceremonial center on Easter Island

Orongo is a stone village and ceremonial center at the southwestern tip of Rapa Nui. It consists of a collection of low, sod-covered, windowless, round-walled buildings with even lower doors positioned on the high south-westerly tip of the large volcanic caldera called Rano Kau. Below Orongo on one side a 300-meter barren cliff face drops down to the ocean; on the other, a more gentle but still very steep grassy slope leads down to a freshwater marsh inside the high caldera.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change in Australia</span> Impacts of climate change on Australia and responses

Climate change in Australia has been a critical issue since the beginning of the 21st century. Australia is becoming hotter and more prone to extreme heat, bushfires, droughts, floods, and longer fire seasons because of climate change. Climate issues include wildfires, heatwaves, cyclones, rising sea-levels, and erosion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change in Pakistan</span> Emissions, impacts and responses of Pakistan related to climate change

Climate change in Pakistan is a major issue for the country. Pakistan is highly vulnerable to climate change. As with the changing climate in South Asia as a whole, the climate of Pakistan has changed over the past several decades, with significant impacts on the environment and people. In addition to increased heat, drought and extreme weather in parts of the country, the melting of glaciers in the Himalayas has impacted some of the important rivers of Pakistan. Between 1999 and 2018, Pakistan ranked 5th in the countries affected by extreme weather caused by climate change. Pakistan is prone to a range of natural disasters, including cyclones, floods, drought, intense rainfall, and earthquakes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Effects of climate change on small island countries</span>

The effect of climate change on small island countries can be extreme because of low-lying coasts, relatively small land masses, and exposure to extreme weather. The effects of climate change, particularly sea level rise and increasingly intense tropical cyclones, threaten the existence of many island countries, island peoples and their cultures, and will alter their ecosystems and natural environments. Several Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are among the most vulnerable nations to climate change.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change in Louisiana</span> Climate change in the US state of Louisiana

Climate change in Louisiana encompasses the effects of climate change, attributed to man-made increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, in the U.S. state of Louisiana.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change in Puerto Rico</span> Climate change in the US territory of Puerto Rico

Climate change has had large impacts on the ecosystems and landscapes of the US territory Puerto Rico. According to a 2019 report by Germanwatch, Puerto Rico is the most affected by climate change. The territory's energy consumption is mainly derived from imported fossil fuels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change in South Carolina</span> Climate change in the US state of South Carolina

Climate change in South Carolina encompasses the effects of climate change, attributed to man-made increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide, in the U.S. state of South Carolina.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change in the Caribbean</span> Emissions, impacts and responses of the Caribbean region related to climate change

Climate changein the Caribbean poses major risks to the islands in the Caribbean. The main environmental changes expected to affect the Caribbean are a rise in sea level, stronger hurricanes, longer dry seasons and shorter wet seasons. As a result, climate change is expected to lead to changes in the economy, environment and population of the Caribbean. Temperature rise of 2 °C above preindustrial levels can increase the likelihood of extreme hurricane rainfall by four to five times in the Bahamas and three times in Cuba and Dominican Republic. Rise in sea level could impact coastal communities of the Caribbean if they are less than 3 metres (10 ft) above the sea. In Latin America and the Caribbean, it is expected that 29–32 million people may be affected by the sea level rise because they live below this threshold. The Bahamas is expected to be the most affected because at least 80% of the total land is below 10 meters elevation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change in the Philippines</span> Impact of climate change on the Philippines

Climate change in the Philippines is having serious impacts such as increased frequency and severity of natural disasters, sea level rise, extreme rainfall, resource shortages, and environmental degradation. All of these impacts together have greatly affected the Philippines' agriculture, water, infrastructure, human health, and coastal ecosystems and they are projected to continue having devastating damages to the economy and society of the Philippines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change in Senegal</span> Emissions, impacts and responses of Senegal related to climate change

Climate change in Senegal will have wide reaching impacts on many aspects of life in Senegal. Climate change will cause an increase in average temperatures over west Africa by between 1.5 and 4 °C by mid-century, relative to 1986–2005. Projections of rainfall indicate an overall decrease in rainfall and an increase in intense mega-storm events over the Sahel. The sea level is expected to rise faster in West Africa than the global average. Although Senegal is currently not a major contributor to global greenhouse gas emissions, it is one of the countries most vulnerable to climate change.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change in Fiji</span> Emissions, impacts and responses of Fiji related to climate change

Climate change in Fiji is an exceptionally pressing issue for the country - as an island nation, Fiji is particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels, coastal erosion and extreme weather. These changes, along with temperature rise, will displace Fijian communities and will prove disruptive to the national economy - tourism, agriculture and fisheries, the largest contributors to the nation's GDP, will be severely impacted by climate change causing increases in poverty and food insecurity. As a party to both the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Climate Agreement, Fiji hopes to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 which, along with national policies, will help to mitigate the impacts of climate change.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Getbol, Korean Tidal Flats</span> UNESCO World Heritage Site in South Korea

Getbol (Korean: 갯벌) are mudflats, or tidal flats, coastal sedimentary systems. They are important habitats for different types of organisms, including migrating birds and marine fauna such as clams, crabs, octopuses, and snails. In 2021, four getbol sites in South Korea were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to their outstanding natural properties. Each of these sites represent a different type of getbol.

References

  1. "New Google Platform Blazes Trail for Using Heritage to Communicate About Climate Change - International Council on Monuments and Sites". www.icomos.org.
  2. threatening impacts of climatic, geological or other environmental factors.
  3. "How Kilwa Kisiwani is Creating Sustainable Conservation". Google Arts & Culture.
  4. "The Climate Issues Putting Chan Chan at Risk". Google Arts & Culture.
  5. Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Chan Chan Archaeological Zone". UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
  6. "Case Studies on Climate Change and World Heritage". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2021-11-10.
  7. "A Quick Guide to Bagerhat's Climate Crisis". Google Arts & Culture.
  8. agencies, Guardian staff and (March 1, 2019). "Easter Island looks for help to save statues from 'leprosy'". the Guardian.
  9. "What Rising Sea Levels Mean For Rapa Nui". Google Arts & Culture.
  10. "Climate change risk to coastal castles - English Heritage". BBC News. 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2022-11-17.
  11. "The Climate Issues Putting Edinburgh at Risk". Google Arts & Culture.
  12. Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "UNESCO World Heritage Centre - State of Conservation (SOC 2019) Venice and its Lagoon (Italy)". UNESCO World Heritage Centre.