Heritage Council chief executive Virginia Teehan has warned that Ireland risks losing “irreplaceable parts of our heritage” without coordinated action to address the climate crisis. The stark warning came during a national conference on the future of Ireland’s heritage hosted by the Heritage Council in Dublin.
Teehan called on the government to “take decisive steps, including the development of a Climate Risk Register for Heritage, to ensure a strategic and effective response to the growing risks posed by climate change.” She emphasized that heritage is not only threatened by climate change but also offers potential solutions.
“While rising temperatures, extreme weather, coastal erosion and increased rainfall already pose significant threats to elements of our national heritage – from coastal sites and wetland habitats to traditional building stock – heritage also offers powerful tools for resilience,” she stated. “Traditional skills, nature-based solutions and cultural knowledge can help strengthen climate adaptation and support Ireland’s transition to a more sustainable future.”
The conference highlighted how extreme weather events and sustained changes to Ireland’s climate are increasingly threatening the country’s valuable heritage sites. These concerns come against the backdrop of 2024 being declared the warmest year on record by the World Meteorological Organisation, with greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere reaching unprecedented levels.
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, who opened the conference, acknowledged these challenges, stating that Ireland’s heritage “faces significant challenges, including the impact of climate change on our natural and built environment.” He assured that the government is “committed to addressing these through sustained investment and targeted policy development, ensuring heritage continues to contribute to our economic, social and environmental wellbeing.”
The Heritage Council is advocating for proactive measures to protect both natural and built heritage sites that face growing risks from climate-related impacts across the country.