Heritage and Climate was the theme of this year’s International Day for Monuments & Sites – with wear and tear on heritage sites placed under the spotlight.
In Minister of State for Heritage Malcolm Noonan’s view, climate change has become an “ever-increasing” threat to these longstanding landmarks.
The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage also released a video to celebrate International Day for Monuments & Sites.
The voiceover says that, “Ireland’s heritage is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Our monuments and historic buildings, while they have stood for centuries, are not immune from these impacts. This historic built environment is critical in addressing climate change. Protecting, adapting and reusing historic building stock reduces environment waste and the carbon dioxide emissions associated with demolition and reconstruction.”
The Government’s Heritage Ireland 2030 plan was launched in February, 2022. This strategy sets out a framework for the protection, conservation, promotion and management of Ireland’s heritage for the next decade and beyond.
Minister Noonan said on social media that he wanted to “acknowledge all of the heritage professionals working to conserve, protect and care for our shared monuments as climate change becomes an ever-increasing threat. It is more important than ever that our heritage is protected, conserved and restored to ensure that the people of Ireland continue to benefit from the value and well-being that it provides.”
Read more about Heritage Ireland 2030 here.