Built and Archaeological Heritage Climate Action

The Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan for Built and Archaeological Heritage is one of nine sectoral plans published in 2019 under the National Adaptation Framework. It outlines five adaptation goals for built and archaeological heritage in Ireland and maps them onto an action plan of specific actions to be implemented.

• Climate Change Sectoral Adaptation Plan for Built and Archaeological Heritage
• National Adaptation Framework sectoral plans

In implementing the work of the plan, the National Monuments Service and the National Built Heritage Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage have produced a number of resources such as guidelines and training materials that may be of assistance to those involved with built and archaeological heritage.

The resources compiled below are freely available for the information of individual users, if you wish to copy and reuse any of the material please credit the source.

Heritage and Climate Adaptation Guidance for Local Authorities

Guidance and case studies on increasing the resilience of heritage resources to current and future climate conditions

Heritage and Climate Adaptation Guidance for Local Authorities

Heritage and Climate Action Webinar, June 2023

A Heritage and Climate Action webinar was delivered in June 2023 as part of the Local Authority Climate Action Training programme. A recording of the webinar is viewable on the National Monuments Service’s YouTube channel.

Slides of the three modules are available below.

A review was conducted of relevant sources and links to some useful resources are given in the slides of the three training modules. They are compiled together below.

Sample climate change risk assessments and condition assessments

Climate change risk assessments (CCRA) are a site-specific approach to assessing the condition of structures and sites, helping to measure risk and inform adaptation measures in order to reduce the vulnerability of our built and archaeological heritage. Some examples of sites where CCRA has been undertaken include:

As an action of the Climate Action Plan, the department has published guidance on the energy upgrading of traditional buildings for specifiers and installers.

Improving Energy Efficiency in Traditional Buildings, Guidance for Specifiers and Installers, 2023

In the reuse of existing buildings, the assessment of embodied carbon impacts, in addition to operational carbon impacts, is increasingly important.

This report presents a review of current national and international standards, guidance, data sources and software applications relating to the whole life carbon assessment of buildings, with a particular focus on the energy upgrading of historic solid-walled structures.

Climate Change Sectoral Adaption Planning Workshop - Privacy Statements