Adapting to Climate Change

Historic Environment and Climate Change in Wales

Sector Adaptation Plan

In April 2019, the Welsh Government declared a national climate emergency to accelerate action to tackle climate change.

This requires both mitigation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, through measures such as energy efficiency, and adaptation to prepare for the impacts of climate change. To help raise awareness of the risks and opportunities of climate change and the need for adaptation, the climate change subgroup of the Historic Environment Group (HEG) has published the Historic Environment and Climate Change in Wales Sector Adaptation Plan.

This plan aims to encourage collaboration and action across all sectors that will:

• increase our knowledge and understanding of the threats and opportunities for the historic environment from changing weather and climate in the short, medium and long term
• increase our capacity by developing the awareness, skills and tools to manage the impacts of climate change on the historic environment
• build the resilience of the historic environment by taking action to adapt and respond to the risks, reduce vulnerability and maximise the benefits.

The sector adaptation plan is aimed at policy and plan makers, including the Welsh Government, local authorities and other public and third sector organisations, as well as non-governmental organisations, including academic institutions. All of these organisations have a vital role to play in developing and implementing the actions identified in the plan.  

The plan builds on the findings of the HEG report, A strategic approach for assessing and addressing the potential impacts of climate change on the historic environment of Wales, and the strategic actions identified in the Welsh Government’s climate change adaptation plan, Prosperity for All: A Climate Conscious Wales.

Monitoring and Evaluation Framework and Interim Activity Reports

The monitoring and evaluation framework will enable HEG and its stakeholders to understand, monitor and evaluate progress against the published SAP actions, and to identify gaps and priority areas that require further attention. The process will run in parallel with the monitoring and evaluation framework for the Welsh Government’s national adaptation plan, A Climate Conscious Wales, to ensure consistent reporting.

Interim Reports of Activity

These will be published annually, as set out in the monitoring and evaluation framework. These will be used to help inform the full external monitoring and evaluation report that will be submitted to the Welsh Ministers in 2024.