Call for papers: ‘Climate Change and Cultural Heritage: Research and Perspectives in Debate’

The establishment of the Scientific Committee on Climate Change by ICOMOS-BR in 2019 introduced a fresh perspective to the discussion surrounding the conservation and management of cultural heritage in the modern era, which is characterised by climate change and its impact on daily human life. These new climatic realities create tensions in the socio-environmental field and pose new challenges to heritage issues.

The impact of climate change on our daily lives is well documented, as evidenced by the effects of heavy rains or prolonged droughts. The current challenge lies in integrating the debate on climate change into the cultural heritage field.

We recognise that heritage encompasses diverse social relationships, lifestyles, and modes of expression and existence. Cultural heritage preserves the uniqueness of each space and is a record of humanity's trajectory on the planet. Working with cultural heritage requires consideration of the specific characteristics of each location and the needs of each biome.

In light of the effects of climate change on cultural heritage, and the potential for such changes to be debated, a public consultation on the Brazilian Charter on Cultural Heritage and Climate Change is underway. This is being promoted by the National Institute of Historic and Artistic Heritage (IPHAN), the Committee on Climate Change and Heritage of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), the International Council of Museums (ICOM), and the Brazilian Institute of Museums (IBRAM).

Against this backdrop, the objective of this dossier is to compile works addressing the impact of climate change on heritage, as well as exploring how heritage can contribute to resilience in safeguarding these assets. Participants are invited to submit articles on projects, research and studies developed in this field, in order to create a platform for dialogue concerning current and future research on climate change and cultural heritage.

Organisation:

Aline Veira Carvalho – Director of the Scientific Committee on Climate Change of ICOMOS-BR (NEPAM/UNICAMP)

Luana Cristina da Silva Campos – Secretary General of the ICOMOS-BR Committee; Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS).

Submission deadline: 31 December 2025

Guidelines for authors on manuscript formatting.