Culturally appropriate? A review of the literature concerning the interaction between climate change and heritage in islands

Abstract

Small islands are recognised as particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts, and how they build climate resilience is increasingly important. Yet, the role that cultural heritages and local knowledge systems can play to foster adaptation have not yet been sufficiently mapped and considered by mainstream climate change research. In this article, we discuss the results of a systematic review of the literature set out to ascertain how climate change is impacting both tangible and intangible cultural heritage in the context of small islands, and to examine how cultural heritages and local knowledge systems foster responses that promote successful adaptation. We find that 1,970 studies fulfilled the criterion of jointly assessing cultural heritages and climate change; but only 54 of these mentioned small islands. When adding more screening criteria, a final set of 39 studies was considered. Research concerning climate change and heritage in island territories is growing; but it already presents a relevant scope of case studies and themes that sustain further research and actions.