Culture heritage at the heart of climate action

Cultural heritage is the shared legacy that connects us to the past and shapes our current identity. It encompasses historical monuments, works of art, and traditions passed down through generations. This precious heritage contributes to tourism, the local economy, knowledge sharing and social inclusion. 

However, climate change now threatens this heritage. Extreme weather events, such as storms and floods, endanger many cultural sites worldwide, including in Canada. For example, sites such as the Fortress of Louisbourg, on the coast of Nova Scotia, and Prince of Wales Fort, in Manitoba, are at risk. The latter, built in the 18th century, is particularly vulnerable to the harsh freeze-thaw cycles, rising temperatures and increased solar radiation that deteriorate the mortar of its walls. In Quebec, coastal erosion and submersion threaten heritage sites such as cemeteries in the Gaspé and the La Grave heritage site in the Magdalen Islands. Some properties, such as the Mowatt House, one of the oldest houses in the region, in Maria on the Gaspé Peninsula, have to contend with flooding episodes¹. Faced with this reality, it’s imperative to act to protect our heritage.  

International organizations such as UNESCO and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) offer tools to integrate climate risk analysis into cultural heritage preservation. For example, ICCROM’s “Net Zero: Heritage for Climate Action” program aims to implement adaptation strategies to reduce the impacts of climate change on heritage². In March 2023, CCG participated in the final training of this program. 

In Quebec, a recent study conducted by the School of Architecture at the University of Montréal, as part of an interinstitutional collaboration between Ouranos and the Ministry of Culture and Communications of Quebec (MCC), has provided an overview of the threats to built cultural heritage due to climate change³. This research relies on public sources available online and in libraries, focusing on information from Quebec ministries involved in climate change mitigation. The identified issues are as follows: 

• Disappearance of neighborhoods and urban landscapes: the demolition or relocation of buildings located in flood-prone areas leads to the disappearance of neighborhoods and urban landscapes, as observed in Baie-Saint-Paul and Gatineau. 
• Impacts on emblematic landscapes: many historical buildings are located near watercourses, and their degradation by climate change threatens urban and rural landscapes. 
• Threats to intangible heritage: the practices, knowledge, and traditions associated with intangible heritage are also threatened by climate change, particularly for Indigenous Peoples who have a deep connection with nature. 

Despite progress, the level of preparedness of municipalities varies. Some have developed climate change adaptation plans (CCAP), but others still need support to strengthen their resilience, particularly in terms of climate risk assessment. In fact, not all the CCAPs published today by many Quebec municipalities have analyzed the climate risks of their real estate assets. 

The Quebec government is beginning to recognize the importance of preserving our heritage in the face of climate change, but it’s essential that municipalities continue to commit to this approach. This is where CCG comes in, offering its expertise in climate risk analysis and the development of tailor-made adaptation plans to protect our cultural heritage for future generations.  

Together, we can take concerted action to protect our cultural heritage and ensure its sustainability in a climate-changing world.