Minister for Culture Lina Mendoni presented Greece’s National Strategy for protecting cultural heritage from the impacts of climate change during an event at the Acropolis Museum.
Mendoni described the initiative as the first systematic effort to integrate climate considerations into the management, protection and promotion of cultural heritage in Greece. She said the strategy also ranks among the few internationally that combine updated and credible guidelines aligned with international standards from the United Nations and the European Union.
The National Strategy formed part of the project “Protection of Iconic Cultural Heritage Sites and Monuments from Climate Change”, funded with €22 million from the European Union Recovery and Resilience Facility. The project aimed to strengthen the resilience of Greece’s cultural heritage and formed part of the country’s broader effort to address climate change impacts in the cultural sector.
The Greek Ministry of Culture designed the strategy through its Directorate of Prehistoric and Classical Antiquities in cooperation with the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the National Hellenic Research Foundation. Authorities also worked closely with the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection and the Ministry of Environment and Energy to ensure a coordinated approach to safeguarding monuments and archaeological sites.
The strategy emphasised preventive actions, compatibility with international guidelines on climate risk assessment and the integration of modern scientific knowledge and specialised digital tools. It also included staff training for the Ministry of Culture and promoted collaboration within Greece and internationally.
Long-term plan to 2050
Mendoni explained that the Ministry of Culture had implemented a comprehensive programme since 2019 to identify and assess climate risks and strengthen resilience in line with international standards and Greece’s National Strategy for Climate Change Adaptation.
She said the new strategy created a coherent adaptation framework linking cultural heritage management with climate resilience and environmental protection.
“The National Strategy follows a long-term design extending to 2050, with intermediate targets every five years,” Mendoni said. “It incorporates mechanisms for flexibility and periodic review while adopting transformative adaptation that requires deeper changes in institutions, policies, governance and infrastructure.”
The plan also provided for adaptation strategies for 40 archaeological sites by 2030 and promoted the use of modern technology and planning tools.
The strategy organised its policies around four main pillars: diagnosis, monitoring, prevention and intervention. These elements formed a unified cycle of risk management that began with scientific analysis of threats, continued with systematic monitoring and prevention measures, and concluded with targeted field interventions.
Focus on prevention and fire protection
Earlier in the event, Giannis Kefalogiannis stressed that protecting monuments could no longer rely solely on restoration after damage occurred.
He said authorities must focus on prevention, preparedness and systematic planning. Kefalogiannis highlighted the cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Climate Crisis and Civil Protection, which began with a memorandum of cooperation in 2021 and expanded through targeted actions addressing wildfire risks.
The government also prepared a specialised Fire Protection Regulation for archaeological sites and monuments. Kefalogiannis said the regulation filled a significant institutional gap, as outdoor archaeological sites previously relied largely on fragmented protection practices.
The new framework introduced unified standards for risk assessment based on the morphology of sites, characteristics of the natural environment and the specific features of each monument. It also included preventive measures such as vegetation management, improved access for firefighting vehicles, designated evacuation routes for visitors and staff, and strengthened emergency preparedness procedures.
Key actions of the strategy
The strategy outlined several major actions, including assessing climate risks across the country based on hazard exposure and vulnerability. It also planned infrastructure projects funded through the Recovery Fund to strengthen fire protection, flood prevention and rockfall mitigation at selected archaeological sites.
Authorities planned adaptation strategies for monuments and archaeological sites supported by a digital platform that would evaluate climate risks and recommend appropriate adaptation measures.
The framework also established a monitoring and evaluation system based on indicators adopted during the COP30.
Additional measures included developing adaptation plans for 19 archaeological sites facing moderate or high climate risk, implementing preventive fire protection actions at 50 sites and preparing organised evacuation plans for visitors at 80 archaeological locations across Greece.
The programme also aimed to create new adaptation plans for five additional sites each year until 2030 and introduce modern techniques to protect building materials and structures from climate-related deterioration.
Pilot projects already implemented
The strategy already led to several infrastructure and risk management interventions at major archaeological locations.
Authorities carried out flood protection works at the archaeological sites of Dion Archaeological Park and Malia Palace. They also installed fire safety systems at Philippi Archaeological Site and Mystras, while engineers carried out interventions to mitigate landslides and rockfalls at Delphi Archaeological Site.
Professor Konstantinos Kartalis from the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens presented the adaptation plan for archaeological sites and monuments during the event, followed by presentations from other experts.
Officials said the initiative marked a major step from scientific analysis and strategic planning towards implementing concrete policies to protect Greece’s cultural heritage from climate change.
