An International Symposium on Impact of Climate Change on Cultural Heritage was organized by NIDM in collaboration with International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) Paris and Institute of Archeology Delhi on 22 May 2007. The Symposium was attended by 47 delegates from national and international organizations engaged in studies related to the impact of climate change and its implication on heritage sites.

Dr. B. Bhattacharya, Member NDMA inaugurated the symposium, while Mr. Dinu Bumbaru Secretary ICOMOS delivered the Keynote Address. A number of presentations on impact of climate change on cultural heritage sites in India and different parts of the world were made. At the conclusion of the symposium, a resolution was adopted which recommended that climate change adaptation strategies for cultural heritage should be mainstreamed into the existing methodologies for preservation and conservation of sites, buildings, settlements, landscape, movable objects and the living traditions and that appropriate standards and protocols should be developed for the purpose.

The Resolution requested the national governments and international organisations to acknowledge the importance of cultural heritage for national economies, tourism, employment and community bonding and to involve the governmental and non-governmental organisations, academic institutions and individuals concerned with raising awareness, conservation and protection of cultural properties with the national and international protocols for disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation;

The resolution further requested the national governments, inter-governmental, non governmental organisations and the private sector to engage and commit resources for the protection of specific heritage sites from the threats of damage and irretrievable loss.

The resolution appreciated the efforts made by the National Institute of Disaster Management, New Delhi and India-ICOMOS in collaboration with the Institute of Archaeology in organising the workshop, which for the first time brought together climate change specialists and cultural heritage experts on the same platform facilitating interaction, exchange of views and cross-fertilization of ideas.

The recommendations of the Symposium shall be discussed in the International Committee on Risk Preparedness (ICORP) Workshop on Risk Management of Heritage Sites as means to promote further collaboration between professional, scientific and institutional networks.

Resolutions