Multiscale approaches and scalability within climate change-heritage risk assessments

The SASCHA project, led by University College London (UCL), aims to develop practical tools and methods for assessing and managing climate change's risks to cultural heritage sites worldwide. The consortium includes academic partners such as the Norwegian Institute for Cultural Research (NIKU), Arizona State University (US), NHAZCA (Italy), and North Carolina State University (US). Societal partners, including ICCROM (International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property), English Heritage Trust (UK), and Ventotene Municipality (Italy), are also contributing to the project. Key objectives of the project: - Developing operationalized indicators and metrics to measure relevant determinants of climate change impacts on cultural heritage. - Creating a locally adaptable protocol for engaging stakeholders in identifying these impacts, considering diverse cultural contexts. - Designing a climate adaptation decision support tool to evaluate assessment approaches for different spatial scales. - Exploring the challenges and opportunities of operationalizing climate change-heritage risk assessment. By addressing these objectives, SASCHA aims to empower local communities and heritage managers to understand better and respond to climate risks. Additionally, through collaboration with organizations such as UNESCO and ICCROM, SASCHA contributes to global discussions on integrating climate impact assessment into heritage conservation efforts. Ultimately, SASCHA seeks to support effective policy development and heritage management practices by providing tools and methods for assessing, interpreting, and communicating climate change risks for heritage sites worldwide.

SASCHA proposes operationalisation for transferable risk assessment and a value-based decision support tool. Supported by this approach, the overarching aim of SASCHA is therefore to develop innovative methods for understanding risks of climate change for heritage that allow for multiscale analysis and scalable approaches, bridging the gaps between local knowledge and global data, and from local vulnerability to global risks. To this end, SASCHA will: a) develop a set of operationalised indicators/metrics for relevant determinants of climate change; b) develop a locally adaptable protocol for stakeholders' engagement in the identification of relevant determinants of climate impacts that acknowledge and celebrate diversity in cultural contexts; c) develop a climate adaptation decision support tool to evaluate relevance of assessment approaches for different spatial scales; d) explore the challenges and opportunities of an operationalisation approach to climate change--heritage risk. Addressing a complex, wide and research-intensive subject, SASCHA unfolds several organisational, scientific, technical, technological and cultural heritage-oriented elements. SASCHA includes four research partners, together bringing significant experience in climate change and heritage and requisite expertise in physical sciences (UCL), social sciences and humanities (NIKU, NCSU/ASU) and technology (NHAZCA). The consortium can significantly contribute to safeguarding and protecting their region's coastal heritage but also to the global discussion of the integration of climate impacts assessment on cultural heritage through the close collaboration with UNESCO's Advisory body, ICCROM and case study stakeholders. SASCHA will develop methods for assessing, interpreting, and communicating climate change risks for heritage, while also supporting effective policy development and heritage management.