Heritage Sites in the Face of Climate Change

Date: Thursday, June 22, 2023

Location: Online 

Climate change increasingly impacts cultural heritage, be that material, immaterial or scenic.  Heritage sites are often trapped by urban practices and expanding human activity, undermining their resilience and jeopardizing some of their attributes.

Heritage sites are prime illustrations of the osmosis between human action and nature, thereby enhancing local character in terms of layout, choice of materials, architectural perspectives, and orientation… Hence the importance of preserving and protecting these sites from the daily hazards of climate change.  This meeting of experts launches the debate on the impact of climate change on heritage sites and associated risks.

The meeting also seeks to initiate discussions on the need for concerted measures to safeguard moveable cultural heritage in urban centers, and areas most exposed to pollution and human activity.  Moveable heritage (whether monumental or domestic) presents both vulnerabilities and great potential in managing the impact of global warming in urban areas, whether through traditional construction techniques and methods (providing lessons in sustainability and respect for the environment) or through new cultural applications of built heritage.

The meeting highlights the value of cultural heritage in establishing historic sites, as well as the vulnerability of these sites in the face of new climatic challenges, and the associated potential hazards to their conservation.  The meeting also examines case studies of cultural heritage sites facing the threat of climate change, with specific recommendations on how to address this situation, as well as new guidelines and recommendations for strengthening the resilience of urban heritage, risk mitigation, and heritage asset management methods.

Experts will share insights and perspectives on the sustainable management of listed sites, highlighting the age-old ecological value inherent to building and conservation techniques, while considering the effects of climate change.  The meeting ties in with Foundation workshops aimed at sharing expertise, raising awareness, and building capacity, to strengthen and synergize efforts towards eco-responsible and environmentally-friendly heritage property management.

Photos

Videos

Suggestions

As part of the UNESCO Week for Cultural and Artistic Education 2026, the Foundation for the Safeguarding of the Cultural Heritage of Rabat published an illustrated publication entitled “7 Chapters of Our Musical Heritage”, created by primary school children aged 8 to 12 from schools across Rabat.

This initiative was implemented within the framework of the educational programme “I Draw My Heritage”, which encourages children to explore and reinterpret cultural heritage through drawing, observation and creative expression.

The initiative combined teachers’ capacity-building, pedagogical training, artistic practice and heritage education, with a particular focus on Moroccan musical expressions as intangible cultural heritage and as vectors of memory, identity and intercultural dialogue.

This initiative was developed in collaboration with the National Institute of Music and Choreographic Arts (INSMAC) and the National Conservatory of Music, whose academic and artistic contributions helped enrich the pedagogical and cultural dimensions of the workshop. The programme also aims to create bridges between different disciplines, institutions and fields of expertise by bringing together culture, education, heritage and the arts within a shared framework of transmission, creativity and cultural awareness.

The publication brings together children’s drawings, interpretations and creative reflections inspired by Moroccan musical heritage, including themes related to Tarab Al Ala, Malhoun and Gnawa traditions. Conceived as both an educational and artistic resource, it highlights the role of children as active participants in the transmission and reinterpretation of intangible cultural heritage. The publication is freely accessible online in order to promote public access to cultural and artistic education.

I Draw My Heritage.pdf

26 May 2026

The Foundation for the Safeguarding of the Cultural Heritage of Rabat, presided by Her Royal Highness Princess Lalla Hasnaa has launched a rich program of cultural and heritage-related activities to mark the hosting by the Kingdom of Morocco of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, a continental event offering an opportunity to enhance Morocco’s cultural and civilizational outreach.

This program reflects Rabat’s unique role as the capital of the Kingdom and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a city shaped by encounter, dialogue, and openness.

From December 27, 2025 to January 18, 2026, the Foundation invites residents and visitors of the Capital to enjoy a program of free guided tours every weekend across Rabat’s eight UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Led by enthusiastic student volunteers trained as part of UNESCO’s World Heritage Volunteers initiative, these tours offer a unique opportunity to discover the city’s heritage in an engaging and accessible way.

Designed to bring heritage closer to the public, these itineraries aim to make cultural sites more approachable while encouraging young people to play an active role in their preservation, promotion, and transmission—especially in an international context marked by the presence of visitors from many different countries.

27 December 2025

What do you know about Morocco’s victory at the 1976 Africa Cup of Nations ? Have you ever listened to an interview with one of the heroes behind this legendary achievement? How did the Moroccan team prepare for this major continental competition?

From Morocco to Ethiopia, an extraordinary journey marked by unprecedented continental brilliance, brought to life in sound and vision with our guest, former player Redouane GUEZZAR.

This podcast preserves Moroccan sports memory through a conversation led by Sarah Rabih and Ishaq El Hafiane, both participants in the Foundation’s educational programs.

Generation “AFCON 2025” meets generation “AFCON 1976” in a unique podcast connecting past and present, celebrating Morocco’s football legacy.

Listen now!

23 December 2025