Brazilian experts warn climate change threatens cultural heritage

A public hearing of the Chamber's Culture Commission brought together specialists who warned that climate change endangers Brazil's cultural landscapes, including Pantanal wetlands, Atlantic Forest slopes and the Caatinga semi‑arid region. They highlighted the need for the Brazilian Charter on Cultural Heritage and Climate Change, a document drafted with input from more than 300 institutions, to guide preservation, mitigation and adaptation measures.

Representatives such as Luana Campos of the International Council on Monuments and Sites emphasized that traditional knowledge can help shape a better future, while Deputy Tarcísio Motta (PSOL‑RJ) warned that extreme weather events threaten both material sites and the intangible knowledge of local communities. The president of Iphan, Deyvesson Gusmão, noted that the heritage sector is being integrated into the National Civil Protection Plan, and the Ministry of the Environment stressed the need for coordinated policies, given that over 84 % of Brazilian municipalities have faced climate‑related disasters in the last decade. Participants called for formal financing and capacity‑building to safeguard cultural heritage against climate impacts.