Bamberg as an International Pioneer in Climate-Resilient World Heritage Management
More than 30 scientists from across Europe gathered in Bamberg to discuss strategies for protecting UNESCO World Heritage sites from the effects of climate change
The Bamberg World Heritage Center looks back on a successful and intensive week. From April 20 to 27, 2026, Bamberg hosted the first “Urban Living Lab” of the EU-funded COST Action Go2CHANGE—and thus served as the venue for an international exchange of expertise on climate protection, climate adaptation, and resilience at UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Over 30 international scientists and experts—including representatives from ICOMOS International, Historic England, the Polytechnic University of Turin, the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and the University of Leicester—gathered in Bamberg to work with local stakeholders on developing concrete strategies for climate protection, climate adaptation, and resilience at World Heritage sites. The relevance of this topic is also underscored by the UNESCO Action Plan for World Heritage in Europe and North America, which defines resilience thinking, disaster risk management, as well as climate protection and climate adaptation as strategic goals for sustainable World Heritage management. By hosting the Training School, Bamberg is taking on a pioneering role and actively contributing to the international discussion on the sustainability of World Heritage sites.
Protecting World Heritage Sites – and Contributing to Climate Protection
The Training School focused on a two-fold question: How can UNESCO World Heritage sites be effectively protected from the impacts of climate change (such as extreme heat, heavy rainfall, increased evaporation, or prolonged periods of stagnant weather), and what contribution can the World Heritage sites themselves make to climate protection?
The program of the week-long Training School combined scientific exchange with practical application. Expert presentations and discussions addressed key topics such as climate risks and World Heritage vulnerabilities, nature-based solutions, the energy-efficient renovation of historic buildings, as well as issues of governance, participation, and climate justice. In daily afternoon sessions of the “Urban Lab Bamberg,” interdisciplinary working groups applied the knowledge gained directly to the situation in Bamberg, in dialogue with local stakeholders from the city administration, the Bamberg Climate Advisory Board, the University of Bamberg, and the Archdiocese. The focus was on the hilltop, island, and garden city, with their specific challenges and potential in addressing climate change. Excursions and site visits also formed an important part of the Training School. The event concluded with public presentations of the group results and a certificate ceremony at the World Heritage Center in Bamberg.
International Recognition and Local Impact
The significance of the event is also reflected in the high-level participation: Friederike Hansell, World Heritage Focal Point at the Federal Foreign Office, underscored through her participation the national importance of the project and Bamberg’s role as a model site for climate-resilience-oriented World Heritage management in Germany.
The findings of the Training School are to be incorporated in the long term into the update of the World Heritage Management Plan for the “Old Town of Bamberg.” The goal is to systematically analyze local climate risks, develop concrete measures, and further strengthen cooperation between government, academia, specialized agencies, and civil society.
Upcoming Dates
The project continues: An international expert workshop will take place in Bamberg from June 30 to July 1, 2026. The overall results will be presented at a closing and dissemination event on October 16, 2026.
Photo credits: Jürgen Schraudner
