Preserving the Past, Protecting the Future

Abstract

Climate change poses an unprecedented challenge to cultural heritage worldwide, requiring urgent adaptation strategies that reconcile preservation with resilience. This paper proposes a structured framework for assessing climate adaptation interventions in heritage structures, addressing the dual imperative of safeguarding authenticity while ensuring long-term sustainability and safety. Drawing on expertise from the International Scientific Committee on the Analysis and Restoration of Architectural Heritage Structures (Iscarsah), the study examines the multifaceted impacts of climate change on heritage sites and evaluates a spectrum of intervention strategies, ranging from minimal interference to more transformative measures. The proposed framework integrates key criteria, including conservation principles, resilience to climate hazards, environmental sustainability, technical feasibility, and sociocultural implications, thus enabling a comprehensive assessment of potential actions. The applicability of this framework is illustrated through case studies on flood and fire management, which demonstrate its capacity to guide decision-making in diverse heritage contexts. By systematically weighing the trade-offs between preservation, adaptation, and ecological impact, the framework provides a practical tool to structure dialogue between experts and stakeholders. In doing so, it fosters more holistic, interdisciplinary solutions for protecting cultural heritage in an era of climate uncertainty.