Several types of dangers threaten cultural heritage, especially in areas where natural
catastrophes occur often. There are many examples of the destruction of cultural values
following natural catastrophe and can there be named destruction of cultural objects
following earthquakes and tidal waves in Japan 2011, destruction of historical cathedrals
and other cultural heritage following the earthquakes in Haiti and in New Zealand in
2010, as well as other examples of the destruction of cultural areas following the tidal
waves in Pakistan 2010 and in Thailand in 2011. Among other examples are the
destruction of cultural objects following unprecedented precipitation and tidal waves in
India in 2010 and following a great storm in West Europe in the same year (Jigyasu, 2019,
87-90).
It is evident that the frequency and strength of catastrophes has and will continue to rise
following climate change (Jigyasu, 2019, 87-90). Climate change is a relatively new
threat for cultural heritage, still it has become the greatest threat to cultural heritage to
this day. Climate change can be a push for other threats like pollution, conflict over
natural resources and emigration from certain areas. Beside all this, climate change is a
threat to cultural heritage that is still buried underground or has not yet been discovered,
for example because of thawing of permafrost, like what is happening in Siberia (García,
2019, 104-106). Increased precipitation can lead to tidal waves and mudslides, raised sea
levels can lead to storms and river floodings, and raised temperatures and melting of
glaciers can lead to glacier floodings (Jigyasu, 2019, 91). Climate change do not have the
same impact on all areas, but their manifestation can be in diverse ways. Some areas are
in more danger concerning raised sea levels than other areas, while some are in more
danger because of the consequences of raised sea levels (Jigyasu, 2019, 89). Cultural
objects in dry areas are in more danger because of forest fires and cultural objects under
mountains are in more danger because of more danger of mudslides. (Jigyasu, 2019, 93).
It does not matter what type of destruction threatens cultural heritage, it always carries
with it an irredeemable loss of a heritage from the past (García, 2019, 101).
García, Bárbara Mínguez. 2019. Resilient cultural heritage for a future of climate change. Journal of International Affairs, 73,(1), 101-120.
Jigyasu, Rohit. 2019. Managing cultural heritage in the face of climate change. Journal of International Affairs, 73, (1), 87-100.