Joint UK-Ireland Research Agenda for Climate Change and Heritage

We assert that a new area of research is needed to ensure the impacts of climate change and our responses to it are managed to preserve the significance of our irreplaceable heritage. This project seeks to establish and embed a UK-Ireland Joint Research Agenda for Climate Change and Heritage (JRACCH) to create a framework to address the increasing challenges posed by climate change to cultural heritage, archaeology, landscapes and the historic built environment. We know there is an extensive appetite for this initiative. Building on a strong foundation of existing collaborations: the UK Heritage Adaptation Partnership (founded in 2022), for mapping climate hazards, Historic England hosted a gathering in June 2024 of heritage agencies, national agencies, major landowners and government departments from the UK and Ireland. The meeting confirmed the need for a novel, unified and strategic framework to ensure that research efforts are complementary, cost-effective and impactful.
The collaborative research framework will:

Establish clear research priorities, minimising duplication and addressing critical gaps in knowledge. 


Promote cross-border partnerships, bringing together expertise to strengthen climate resilience and decarbonisation. 


Develop a central online research hub for knowledge sharing, improving resource allocation and driving innovation.  

The JRACCH will align with regional, national and international priorities and foster partnerships to leverage shared goals, expertise and resources. It will focus on areas where resources are most needed to address the most pressing threats from climate change, whilst highlighting the potential role of heritage in achieving climate change mitigation and adaptation goals. Through targeted, coordinated and innovative research, the JRACCH will help to drive heritage conservation efforts that support national and international net-zero objectives.
Research projects linked to the JRACCH will be featured on an online research hub that will be managed in perpetuity by Historic England. This will serve as a vital resource for stakeholders, offering an user-friendly platform to capture and track research activities related to climate change and heritage. The hub will improve transparency, reduce duplication, maximise resource use and enable the Partnership Group to identify opportunities for collaboration. It will also support decision-makers by providing vital evidence to inform policy.
We will work closely with a broad Partnership Group in co-creating the research agenda to ensure its relevance and impact. Through this collaborative approach, these partners will strengthen networks, build capacity, and nurture leadership in the heritage sector. Peer support and knowledge exchange will be central to sustaining long-term engagement.
This transformative initiative will generate significant benefits, including improved coordination of research activities, effective resource utilisation, and the potential of standardised methodologies to ensure consistency and comparability across studies. Policy-relevant insights will directly inform national adaptation and mitigation strategies, integrating heritage considerations into broader governmental climate goals.
By embedding the JRACCH into partner workflows, the project will deliver lasting impact. It will provide a sustainable and collaborative framework for safeguarding heritage in the face of climate change - driving innovation, influencing policy, and fostering leadership within the sector.