Aerial view ofl Muchelney Abbey, Somerset flooding in 2012
Muchelney Abbey, Somerset flooding in 2012.
Muchelney Abbey, Somerset flooding in 2012.

Researching Heritage, Climate Change and Environment

Environmental impacts on the historic environment can involve flooding, coastal change, extreme weather events and changes in the distribution of species. Climate change is continually increasing the likelihood, magnitude and frequency of these processes.

Introduction

Our historic environment is particularly vulnerable to environmental change. Structures which have been standing for hundreds of years and archaeology previously buried safely underground are in increasing danger from extremes of wetting, drying and temperature fluctuation. Our diverse landscapes and historic coasts are also at risk of significant change.

However, taking action now will make it possible to help protect some of the historic environment, by developing adaptation measures and building resilience into our plans. Historic England's ongoing role is to commission research and provide expert advice to protect historic places. As we move forward into climate-uncertainty, Historic England is continuing to focus on finding the best solutions to help manage vulnerable parts of the historic environment.

Changing environmental conditions will affect buildings and archaeology, both directly through the action of physical, biological, and chemical processes, and indirectly through the human actions undertaken to adapt to or mitigate them. However, the scale of change will be highly variable, with little or no adaptation required for some and possible acceptance of unavoidable loss for others.

Research reports on understanding climate risk

Research reports on carbon reduction and energy efficiency

Research reports on climate resilience and adaptation

Research reports on buildings performance

Joint UK–Ireland Research Agenda for Climate Change & Heritage (JRACCH)

What is the JRACCH?

The Joint UK-Ireland Research Agenda for Climate Change and Heritage (JRACCH) is a collaborative project developing a shared research agenda for the heritage sector funded by UKRI-AHRC [award reference UKRI2579].

Led by Historic England, with co-leads at the National Trust, and at the University of Oxford, JRACCH is working with partners across the UK and Ireland to identify the knowledge, evidence and research needed to respond to climate change.

Purpose

JRACCH will produce a practical, shared agenda to help guide future research, funding, policy and practice.

It aims to clarify priorities, reduce duplication, strengthen collaboration, and support a more coordinated response to climate change across the heritage sector.

Partnership

JRACCH is being developed with partners from across the UK and Ireland, including heritage bodies, government agencies, land and estate mangers and  cultural organisations.

Key Objectives

  • Co-create a joint UK–Ireland research agenda on climate change and heritage by identifying and prioritising shared research needs across the heritage sector related to climate risk, adaptation, mitigation, and resilience. 
  • Create a practical, actionable Research Agenda, aligned to the UK’s National Adaptation Plan, Ireland’s Climate Action Plan, and European efforts such as the Alliance for Research on Cultural Heritage in Europe ARCHE's Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA).
  • Strengthen coordination and collaboration, helping sector organisations, funders, and researchers align around common goals.
  • Support the commissioning and delivery of impactful, relevant research by identifying shared needs and gaps.
  • Facilitate knowledge exchange and share research more effectively.
  • Enable the sector to speak with one voice to government and funders.

Funded by

UKRI-AHRC

Also of interest

Delivering on Climate Change Action and Heritage
Introduction to The Climate Change Special Edition, Issue 19
Mapping Climate Hazards to Historic Sites
Overheating and Historic Buildings
Building Climate Resilience Through Community Landscapes and Cultural Heritage ('Clandage')
Historic Watercourses and Climate Change: Mapping the History of Rivers and Floodplains
Kassandra – an Integrated Decision Support System to Manage Climate Change in Historic Environments
Progress for Peatlands
Articulating Loss: Understanding and Communicating the Loss of Coastal Heritage
Nature Recovery and Heritage