Seminar "Climate Change and Cultural Heritage: Learning through Knowledge and Practice", 11-12 September, 2025
About the Seminar
This project responds to UNESCO’s call to the States Parties of the World Heritage Convention to integrate climate actions into the protection system of cultural heritage. In line with global UNESCO policy, reaffirmed in the Policy Document on Climate Action for World Heritage, the actions should be taken in four main areas: climate change assessment, mitigation, adaptation, and capacity building and knowledge.
The seminar marks the first initiative in response to UNESCO’s call to lay the groundwork for a new quality in cultural heritage protection and conservation. It aims to contribute to shaping a national framework for climate impact assessment related to heritage sites. The capacity building seminar will focus on strengthening the skills of heritage professionals by sharing experiences and best practices from Nordic countries and Scotland that have advanced climate policy and developed tools to assess climate impacts on cultural heritage. A partnership has been established with the Norwegian Directorate for Cultural Heritage Management and the Swedish National Heritage Board (under the Ministry of Culture).
Objectives and Impact
Gradual climate change presents growing threats to historic green spaces, buildings, and cultural landscapes. Changing soil conditions, shifts in plant and animal species, the spread of pests, environmental degradation, and extreme natural hazards' impacts are accelerating material decay. These factors are expected to intensify in the future. The project will enhance the competencies of cultural heritage professionals and restorers at both national and local levels, enabling them to monitor climate effects and apply adaptive or preventive measures to protect cultural heritage.
This initiative seeks to strengthen the national capacity to embed climate action into the daily practices of conservation and heritage protection. The overall goal is to incorporate a climate perspective into the cultural heritage protection framework.
Initiators and Partners
This project is initiated by the Lithuanian National Commission for UNESCO, in collaboration with the Nordic Council of Ministers Office in Lithuania and KIC Fixus Mobilis.
We look forward to your participation in this important dialogue bridging climate resilience and cultural heritage preservation.
Project coordinator:
Renata Kepežinskienė
Phone: +370 641 90482
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
