Climate Adaptation Summit

Announcement

On the 25th and 26th of January, the Climate Adaptation Summit (CAS2021) will be held online. This global summit, hosted by the Netherlands, discusses policies and practical solutions to adapt our societies to the impacts of climate change. To emphasise the importance of culture and heritage within climate adaptation, the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), in cooperation with the Technical University of Delft, organise the side event ‘Water heritage for climate adaptation’ during this summit.

Water heritage for climate adaptation

Our complex relationship with water is embodied in tangible heritage, such as century old dykes and irrigation systems. There is, however, also an intangible dimension to water that should also be considered as heritage: the role of water in diverse religions, and values that we attach to water, such as beauty, cleanliness or recreation. These tangible and intangible aspects have been a source of inspiration, innovation and creativity not only for the present, but also for future challenges regarding the adaption to climate change. The objective of the side event by ICOMOS and TU Delft is to build support for acknowledging the significance of water heritage for present and future water management challenges, and its recognition in the UN Water Decade mid-term review in 2023. 

The event will open with a reflection by Professor Pavel Kabat, Chief Climate Scientist of the World Meteorological Organisation on the significance of water related cultural heritage for present and future climate related challenges. Subsequently, Ian Trevors, President of the International Scientific Committee on Water and Cultural Heritage, will present the mission of this new ICOMOS initiative. The event presents short illustrative examples about ports and water ways, historic waterscapes and spate irrigation – from inner city Amsterdam to flood regions in Pakistan. Dr Barbara van Koppen of the International Water Management Institute in South Africa will talk about the significance of intangible heritage for water management in Africa, and Koosje Spitz (UNESCO Commission) will present a human based approach to climate adaptation. The event will conclude with a set of recommendations for the Water Adaptation Hub that will be developed under the Global Centre on Adaptation.   

The side event can be seen in the online Cinema of the Climate Adaptation Summit, and can be watched at by registered participants any time. Registration is free via the website of the Climate Adaptation Summit.

Watch our webinars

If you are interested to know more about Water and Heritage, have a look at the 3 webinars on Water and Heritage that ICOMOS Netherlands organised in 2020.

1.     Water & Heritage: Explained: www.thewaterchannel.tv/water-and-heritage

2.     Cooperation between the Water and Cultural Heritage sectors: www.thewaterchannel.tv/water-heritage-coop

3.     Water & Heritage: Telling Examples & Assessment Methodologies: www.thewaterchannel.tv/water-heritage-examples

See you at CAS2021?

To attend the Climate Adaptation Summit and to watch the side events online, (free) registration is required via the website of the Climate Adaptation Summit: https://www.cas2021.com/. We hope that you will join us on the 25th and the 26th of January.  

Ir. Henk van Schaik

Vice President of the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee on Water and Heritage 

Prof.dr.ing. Carola Hein

Chair of the department of the History of Architecture and Urban Development

Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands