Recovery of areas vulnerable to climate change

TECNALIA and UNESCO launch a platform for the recovery of historical areas vulnerable to climate change

It is a system that incorporates a catalogue of solutions to improve resilience in historical and cultural areas at risk and is already being implemented in pilot areas in Italy, Turkey, the Netherlands, South East Europe and Galicia

8th August 2023. In recent decades, cultural and natural heritage has been affected by the increasing consequences of climate change, posing new challenges for those responsible for its conservation. On the other hand, risk events, such as heat waves, floods, fires or storms, vary in different regions of Europe.

To connect the scientific community and heritage managers and share best practices to promote safe reconstruction in historical, cultural and natural areas, the research and technological development centre, TECNALIA, with the support of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, UNESCO, has launched a platform for the recovery of areas vulnerable to climate change.

It is a system that incorporates a catalogue of solutions to improve resilience in historical and cultural areas at risk through self-diagnosis and monitoring tools for decision-making. The University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) and the Basque company EGIS have also worked closely on the development of this system.

The platform targets local authorities, urban planners, conservation professionals, first responders, such as fire-fighters, medical staff or police, cultural heritage owners and managers, and aims to provide them with the tools to guide historical areas in the transformation to a more resilient, circular, smart and inclusive historical environment by taking advantage of the opportunity provided by awareness, adaptation and hazard preparedness.

European Learning Network

This system, which is part of a European initiative, is being implemented in different areas to address major climate and environmental challenges in Europe: Ravenna (Italy), Seferihisar (Turkey), Dordrecht (Netherlands), Sava River Basin (South East Europe) and the Baixa Limia-Serra do Xurés Natural Park (Galicia). All case studies are connected through a learning network that will facilitate a continuous exchange of knowledge, experiences and good management practices and access to the best learning processes.

About TECNALIA

TECNALIA is the largest applied research and technological development centre in Spain, a European benchmark and member of the Basque Research and Technology Alliance. TECNALIA works with companies and institutions to improve their competitiveness, people's quality of life and achieve sustainable growth, thanks to a team of more than 1,500 people committed to building a better world through technological research and innovation. This is why TECNALIA's research has a real impact on society and generates benefits in the form of quality of life and progress.

Its main areas of action are: smart manufacturing, digital transformation, energy transition, sustainable mobility, health and food, urban ecosystem and circular economy.

In the latest brand awareness and positioning study carried out by the European Research Survey (ERS) in 2022, TECNALIA tops the list regarding R&D&I brand awareness.