Heritage for Climate Action
Cultural heritage offers practical solutions to today’s climate and environmental challenges. Europa Nostra advocates for heritage-led approaches that promote adaptive reuse, circular economy principles, traditional knowledge and nature-based solutions. We work to ensure that cultural heritage is fully integrated into Europe’s green transition and climate policies, recognising it as an essential resource for achieving climate resilience and sustainable development.
A huge thank you to everyone who participated in today’s #PolicyAgora.
From climate resilience to cross-border cooperation, today’s conversations reaffirmed the importance of heritage in shaping sustainable futures across Mare Nostrum pic.twitter.com/c1Hkhvrw6k
— Europa Nostra (@europanostra) May 29, 2026
At the European level, Europa Nostra has been at the forefront of demonstrating how cultural heritage contributes to the objectives of the European Green Deal. In 2021, in close cooperation with the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the Climate Heritage Network and members of the European Heritage Alliance, we published the European Cultural Heritage Green Paper, a landmark policy document that sets out the vital role of cultural heritage in delivering a climate-neutral, resilient and inclusive Europe.
Globally, Europa Nostra has campaigned to ensure culture is included in the agenda of the United Nations Climate Change Conferences (COP). As Co-Chair of the Climate Heritage Network, we have played a leading role in advancing the recognition of culture within the UN Climate Change Conferences (COP).
We welcomed the significant progress in mainstreaming culture and heritage in the climate agenda at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, while continuing to advocate for a more holistic recognition of the cultural dimensions of the climate crisis. Building on this momentum, Europa Nostra actively engaged with COP28 in Dubai, where the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience further integrated cultural heritage into adaptation efforts.
It was an honour to represent @europanostra & @EurHeritageHub at this historic meeting at #COP28 which saw the launch of the #GroupOfFriends of culture-based climate action, and the adoption of the related #EmiratesDeclaration, with due involvement of key cultural organisations. https://t.co/pB6aciW5VG
— Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailović (@SneskaEN) December 8, 2023
At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, international cooperation on culture-based climate action continued to grow, paving the way for the historic achievements of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, where culture was included for the first time in the official COP Action Agenda and cultural heritage was recognised under the Global Goal on Adaptation.
In November 2026, Europa Nostra will participate in COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, working with partners worldwide to ensure that culture and cultural heritage remain integral to climate action and a just transition.
HeritageAdapts! campaign. Image: Courtesy of Preserving Legacies
In June 2026, together with the European Heritage Hub, Europa Nostra joined the HeritageAdapts! campaign as a Leadership partner. Heritage Adapts! is the first global campaign uniting the heritage sector behind a shared mission: at least 3,000 sites and practices taking locally led climate adaptation action by 2030. Spearheaded by a coalition led by Preserving Legacies and supported by the National Geographic Society, the campaign connects local action to global impact, strengthening community resilience worldwide.
Opening photo: Representatives of Cultural Voices at COP28 in Dubai, UAE. Photo: All rights reserved
