News and publication highlights relating to Heritage and the Climate Crisis from across the month of March.
This month has seen the publication of Historic England’s Climate Change Strategy which has yet again demonstrated the importance of the historic environment as part of the response to the Climate Crisis. We’ve also seen some great, informative articles, resources and campaigns this month, all detailed below.
Fancy Getting involved with Heritage Declares?
Our next meeting is being held Thursday 14th April at 5pm-6pm, join through the link here. We’d love to see more people!
We are also looking for volunteers to help with our social media accounts, website and helping to produce the monthly news and newsletter. Tasks may include:
- Reviewing news for relevant articles and case studies to be used across our platforms.
- Creating summaries for the newsletter.
- Tweeting and retweeting relevant stories on our Twitter.
- Posting relevant material to our LinkedIn page.
- Creating photo content for our Instagram.
- Writing up case studies for the website.
Volunteering is flexible and can fit around your existing commitments. No experience needed beyond an enthusiasm for heritage and raising awareness of the Climate Crisis, we can shape the role to fit your interests.
For more information and to express an interest in volunteering, please email us here.
We are also starting to update our Case Studies page on the website, thank you for all the submissions so far! If you have any case studies you’d like to send us, please email us here.
Historic England publishes Climate Change Strategy
Historic England have published their Climate Change Strategy. This strategy describes Historic England’s response to the climate crisis, setting out their vision, aims and practically how they are mitigating, managing risks and adapting to the Climate Crisis. Read more about it here.
Call for Papers: Global Climate Change and Built Heritage
The Built Heritage Journal is calling for papers on its latest issue ‘Global Climate Change and Built Heritage’. This special issue aims to collate current research into the complex relationship between climate change and built heritage. Papers may include the following topics, but not limited to:
- The impact of the continued use of built heritage on climate change
- The impact of climate change on built heritage
- Learning from the Past
- Built heritage and environmental justice
The issue is being guest edited by Heritage Declares coordinator Dr Chris Whitman and his colleagues at the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University. Abstracts are to be sent to built-heritage@tongji.edu.cn to by 29th July 2022.
Campaign to save Grange Lido
A campaign has been created to save Grange Lido, the only surviving seaside lido in the North-West. and one of only four in England. Since its closure in 1993, it has been waiting to be re-opened and now needs some considerable restoration works. Save Grange Lido Ltd is working in partnership with South Lakeland District Council on a two-phase restoration of the Lido. To find more about the campaign and restoration plans, visit their website.
Spring statement 2022: The Chancellor announced that the VAT payable on ‘energy-saving materials’ would go from five per cent to zero from April for five years.
As part of the Spring Statement, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced that VAT on the installation of energy efficient materials in homes such as solar panels, heat pumps and insulation is to be cut from 5% to 0%. This article explains the key points of the changes in more detail and the other issues to consider when looking to use more energy saving materials.
Real World Visuals bring Climate data to life through visuals
Real World Visuals have been working to create simple animations and visuals to demonstrate the impact of the Climate Crisis in the real world. They have created a visual highlighting the carbon footprint of cement, using animation to help people comprehend the scale and volume of carbon footprints. Read more about this project here.
Civic Trust Awards recognition for Preston Bus Station and ERP Killingworth
Two outstanding twentieth century buildings have been recognised for their exemplary restoration, as the winners of the 2022 Civic Trust Awards were announced. Preston Bus Station was threatened with demolition for many years and to see it restored and given recognition through an award champions our campaign to preserve and maintain our existing buildings. Read more about the awards here.
Forgotten women architects celebrated for IWD
For International Women’s Day, Open House London created a Twitter thread celebrating women architects throughout the 20th century. In addition, the thread also exposed the extent that these estates and buildings are being forgotten, poorly maintained and many even demolished, including Rosemary Stjernstedt and Roger Westman’s Central Hill which is currently under threat and has its own campaign twitter here.
National Trust climate threat mapping
Whilst published in 2021, the National Trust’s climate threat mapping is still a relevant resource worth sharing. The map illustrates the threat climate change poses to some of its most iconic and culturally significant sites – and offers some solutions on how to tackle it. The map works by plotting its places alongside existing data on climate change related events. Through doing this the charity is able to understand potential risk factors at a local scale. For more info see their press release.
Any thoughts?
Have you got any thoughts on the March News on Heritage and the Climate Crisis? Or suggestions for the April post? Leave them in the comments below or tweet us @HeritageDecl