Cultural Heritage at the Heart of Climate Action: Asia-Pacific Regional Conference

Arrangement type

Hybrid (in-person & online)

Online attendance times

March 7: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM (JST, UTC+9)

March 8: 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM (JST, UTC+9)

About

From 7 to 9 March 2026, UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok, in collaboration with the Ritsumeikan University and Tokyo National Research Institute for Cultural Properties, will convene a landmark regional conference and capacity-building workshop in Kyoto, Japan. This meeting will bring together World Heritage City site managers, researchers, and climate practitioners from across Asia and the Pacific to discuss ways to address the global challenge of climate change and concrete actions of adaptation and mitigation. 

As climate risks intensify—from floods and heatwaves to droughts and rising sea levels—historic cities stand on the frontlines. Yet these same cities hold powerful knowledge, traditions, and practices that can guide climate adaptation and mitigation. This conference positions cultural heritage not as a passive victim of climate change, but as an active driver of solutions.

Through dialogue, shared learning, and hands-on training, participants will explore how World Heritage Cities can strengthen resilience, reduce vulnerabilities, and lead transformative climate action rooted in local contexts. The three-day programme will combine strategic discussions, professional and case-oriented presentations, peer exchange on innovative practices, a site visit to the World Heritage property of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto, and practical workshops on climate risk assessment and adaptation planning.

By connecting expertise across borders and sectors, the event aims to catalyse a new generation of cooperation—turning knowledge into action and cities into laboratories of climate resilience. 

Background

Cultural heritage across the Asia-Pacific region is increasingly threatened by the accelerating impacts of climate change. Intensified monsoons and storms, urban heat islands, drought, temperature fluctuations, and glacier melt are already affecting the structures, materials, and landscapes that define World Heritage properties.

At the same time, heritage cities are uniquely positioned to contribute to climate solutions. Traditional knowledge systems, historic urban forms, and community-based practices offer tested pathways for adaptation, risk reduction, and sustainable living.

In response, UNESCO has advanced a global agenda linking heritage conservation and climate action since 2000s, including the adoption of the Policy Document on Climate Action for World Heritage (2023) and the development of a new Climate Action Toolkit for World Heritage managers .

This regional conference forms part of the three-year project 'Cultural Heritage – A Driver of Climate Action for Resilient World Heritage Cities & Towns in Asia and the Pacific,' supported by the UNESCO/Japan Funds-in-Trust. The conference contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 11 and 13 on making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable. It also supports the follow-up to the Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting on World Heritage in the Asia-Pacific region and the implementation of the Policy Document on Climate Action for World Heritage. 

Attendance and registration

• In-person attendance is by invitation only, extended to World Heritage site managers, climate officers and relevant national government officers from selected World Heritage Cities in the Asia-Pacific region.
• Online participation is open to all interested participants worldwide. Advance registration is required via the Zoom link below. Please note that the online broadcast will be limited to sessions of Day 1 and the afternoon of Day 2 and will be accessible in view-only mode. Please click here to register.  
• For assistance, please contact: culture.bgk(at)unesco.org

Conference documents

• Concept Note
• Draft programme (to be made available soon)