The UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe is implementing the project “Building a climate resilient future: capacity development in climate change adaptation and designated sites of South-East Europe” funded by Bulgaria. As part of the project, a training was organised with selected representatives from UNESCO designated sites of South-East Europe.

Climate change impacts cultural heritage globally, and increasingly poses challenges to heritage managers and conservators. Sharing experiences and management practices among local practitioners and experts on flood risk management is today of utmost importance for cultural heritage protection and emergency response. As a result, within the framework of the EU-funded SHELTER project, a peer-learning mission was organised last September in the Netherlands by the International Sava River Basin Commission and IHE Delft Institute for Water Education with the support of the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe.

Venice and its surrounding lagoon is a unique and very special UNESCO World Heritage Site. On 4 November 1966, its sacred façade as a beautiful romantic city was shattered when torrential rain combined with high tides and severe winds flooded the city. The conditions never seen before devastated the north of Italy and historically important cities in addition to Venice, causing enormous damage. The destruction was compounded by a cruel toll on human life and physical damage to thousands of works of art. In the aftermath of this disaster and in response to the disastrous state of Venice’s heritage, a request for assistance by the Italian Government was sent to UNESCO. René Maheu, the then Director-General of UNESCO launched an Appeal for International Solidarity, to which initiatives from all over the world arose to promptly provide aid. This resulted in an International Campaign, which for 50 years led to outstanding cooperation and worldwide support for the inventorying and restoration of major monuments within the city of Venice.

The GEO4CIVHIC project, looking at integration of geothermal energy in building renovation in both civil and historic sites, has entered its fourth and final year. The consortium completed the installation of the geothermal technologies to retrofit Angel’s Gate, a demonstration site located in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Ferrara, Italy. This is a proven example of the high efficiency of shallow geothermal systems applied to historical buildings and a role model for replication in other heritage assets.

Duty station: UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe; Location: Venice, Italy; Dates: 2023 Duration: 3-6 months; Application deadline: 18 November 2022

Duty station: UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe; Location: Venice, Italy; Dates: 2023 Duration: 3-6 months; Application deadline: 11 November 2022