September 2026 marks the beginning of the European Partnership for Resilient Cultural Heritage, a EU-funded initiative dedicated to improving the structuring and coordination of research at the interface of climate change and cultural heritage.
With 90 partners across 30 countries, the Partnership is an unprecedented collaboration that aims to strengthen the means of preserving Europe’s cultural heritage and to contribute to climate neutrality by bringing forward practice, techniques and materials both traditional and innovative, resulting from cultural heritage research. The initiative brings together a wide range of stakeholders, including but not limited to public authorities and national ministries, research and academic institutes, cultural and creative sector organisations, industry, and civil society actors, committed to funding research at the intersection of cultural heritage and climate change, demonstrate the role of cultural heritage in communicating climate change and building resilience, increase transnational cooperation, provide policy support and develop scalable solutions for climate adaptation and mitigation. Throughout the decade, the Partnership will launch transnational joint calls for research projects at the intersection of cultural heritage and climate change, as well as activities to support and amplify the impact of the projects.
As Partner, the role of CMCC Foundation is to act as a bridge between scientific research and policymakers, strengthening the connection between cultural heritage and climate science and ensuring the transfer of knowledge from science to policy in Europe and the world. Considering also its experience and specific contribution, CMCC Foundation is also involved in the implementation of the programme of training opportunities.
The RCH Partnership’s kick-off event will be on September 29, 2026, in Marseille, France. Featuring high-level talks, discussions and roundtables, the event will be an opportunity to get to know the Partnership’s objectives and planned activities, learn about upcoming funding opportunities, engage with experts from the cultural heritage and climate science communities, and build new collaborative practices across disciplines and sectors. The conclusion will be delivered by early-career researchers and professionals, that will showcase their unique perspective and advance the involvement of future generations in transnational and interdisciplinary research.
Cultural Heritage is one of the core topics of the Future Earth Research School. As a highly interdisciplinary initiative, the School is committed to providing advanced training on multiple facets of the broader issue of climate change and sustainability. A dedicated FERS course on the intersection of Cultural Heritage and Climate Change is planned to be held in the near future. More information will be shared soon.
Learn more about the European Partnership for Resilient Cultural Heritage here.
If you are interested in attending the kick-off event on September 29, visit the dedicated webpage. Participation is free and it is possible either in person or online.