The Interdepartmental Working Group (WG) Climate, Environment and Cultural Heritage was established with the aim of promoting scientific collaboration among researchers of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) engaged in studying the impacts of climate change and environmental hazards on cultural and natural heritage.
The Working Group was created by the DSSTTA Department in collaboration with the DSU and DIITET Departments to foster a multidisciplinary approach integrating Earth and Environmental Sciences, Human and Social Sciences, and Information and Engineering Sciences.
The increasing exposure of cultural heritage to the effects of climate change, extreme events, and multiple environmental pressures requires the development of new strategies for knowledge generation, prevention, adaptation, and risk management. The Working Group serves as a platform for discussion and coordination, bringing together expertise, methodologies, and tools already available within CNR, while promoting the transfer of research outcomes into policies for the protection and safeguarding of cultural heritage.
Contacts
Coordinator: Alessandra Bonazza (ISAC) – alessandra.bonazza@cnr.it
ISAC Representative: Fernanda Prestileo (ISAC) – fernanda.prestileo@cnr.it
Objectives
The Working Group pursues the following objectives:
- Foster cooperation and knowledge exchange among CNR Institutes working on climate change impacts and environmental risks affecting cultural and natural heritage;
- Promote advances in research and innovation for the protection and conservation of cultural heritage;
- Develop multidisciplinary approaches for vulnerability and risk assessment;
- Support the definition of mitigation, adaptation, and risk reduction strategies;
- Contribute to the integration of cultural heritage into climate and environmental policies;
- Encourage participation in national and European programmes and initiatives related to climate change, resilience, and cultural heritage conservation.
Componenti
Coordinamento
- Alessandra Bonazza (ISAC) – Working Group Coordinator
- Francesca Argenio (DSSTTA) – Departmental Representative
Contact persons
- DSSTTA
- Fernanda Prestileo (ISAC)
- Rosa Lasaponara (IMAA)
- Antonella Macagnano (IIA)
- Laura Turconi (IRPI)
- Stefano Luigi Gariano (IRPI)
- Barbara Aldighieri (IGAG)
- DSU
- Elena Gigliarelli (ISPC)
- Roberta Varriale (IsMed)
- Gaia Daldanise (IRISS)
- DIITET
- Paolo Cignoni (ISTI)
- Roberto Natalini (IAC)
Main Research Topics
- Study of the impacts of climate change (gradual and extreme variations) and environmental hazards (including air pollution) on cultural and natural heritage, aimed at supporting a multi-risk assessment framework;
- Development of indicators for the assessment and monitoring of observed impacts and medium- to long-term projected risks;
- Definition of a shared methodology for vulnerability assessment, including social, cultural, economic, and environmental dimensions;
- Development of approaches for damage quantification at territorial scale for complex systems (historic centres, cultural landscapes, coastal and underwater heritage);
- Support for the definition of measures and strategies for impact mitigation, climate change adaptation, and risk reduction, including the integration of cultural heritage into mainstream climate change policies;
- Development of digital methodologies and tools for the characterization and analysis of conservation conditions and risk, degradation modelling, decision-support processes, and knowledge dissemination and heritage accessibility.
Activities and Initiatives
The activities of the Working Group include:
- Mapping expertise available within participating Institutes;
- Identifying major knowledge gaps and research priorities;
- Developing interdisciplinary case studies and pilot actions;
- Promoting synergies with other DSSTTA Working Groups;
- Establishing links with European research initiatives and infrastructures;
- Encouraging joint scientific publications;
- Organising workshops, training schools, and outreach events;
- Engaging stakeholders, public administrations, and civil protection organisations;
- Identifying national and international funding and project opportunities.
Events
Working Group Launch Workshop
26 June 2026 (online)
First meeting introducing the Working Group to the participating Institutes, including the presentation of the main research lines and expertise available within the Institutes concerning the impacts of climate change on cultural heritage.
During the workshop, contributions addressed the following topics:
- Microclimatic and environmental monitoring;
- Climate change and built heritage;
- Coastal and marine heritage;
Vulnerability assessment and territorial resilience;
Remote sensing, Artificial Intelligence, and Spatial Data Science;
High-resolution climate modelling;
Multi-risk approaches and decision-support systems;
Preventive conservation and the development of sustainable materials for cultural heritage. - Vulnerability assessment and territorial resilience;
- Remote sensing, Artificial Intelligence, and Spatial Data Science;
- High-resolution climate modelling;
- Multi-risk approaches and decision-support systems;
Preventive conservation and the development of sustainable materials for cultural heritage. - Preventive conservation and the development of sustainable materials for cultural heritage.
Meeting di presentazione del GdL agli Istituti-20260626_094215-Registrazione della riunione 1.mp4