Climate change is becoming an increasingly prominent global issue, with impacts occurring on local, regional, and international scales. Rising sea levels, intensified storms and rainfall, extreme temperatures, prolonged droughts, and wildfires are becoming more frequent and severe. These changes have proven catastrophic for ecosystems, communities, and the built environment—including culturally and historically significant structures.
Historic buildings are particularly vulnerable due to their use of traditional materials, lack of structural reinforcements, and exposure to hazards such as flooding, drought, extreme temperatures, and coastal erosion. Additionally, many of these buildings are protected to preserve their historical integrity, often making it challenging to implement adaptations that could mitigate climate-related threats.
This article explores the various climate-related threats to historical structures and highlights the strategies currently being employed to reduce these risks.
Global sea levels have risen by approximately 21–24 cm since 1880, with nearly 10.14 cm of that increase occurring since 1993 alone. The rate of sea level rise has more than doubled—from 1.4 mm per year throughout much of the 20th century to 3.6 mm per year between 2006 and 2015.
These rising sea levels contribute to flooding and coastal erosion, accelerating the deterioration of building materials through saltwater exposure and chemical corrosion. In the UK, for example, sea levels are rising by approximately 3 mm per year, placing many coastal heritage sites at risk. Much of medieval Dunwich, once a thriving town in Suffolk, now lies submerged beneath the North Sea due to coastal erosion driven by increasingly powerful waves and storms. Similarly, Carthage in Tunisia—an ancient Phoenician-founded trading hub—is under threat from sea encroachment.
In Venice, sea level rise of approximately 25 cm over the past century has led to frequent flooding of landmarks such as St. Mark’s Basilica, resulting in subsidence and chemical damage to its historic materials, including marble, brick, stone, and mosaics. In Bangladesh, saltwater intrusion is accelerating the deterioration of the brick structures within the historical mosque city of Bagerhat.
Extreme weather events result in flash flooding, water ingress, and long-term material degradation. Poor drainage, blocked downpipes, and overwhelmed guttering are now more frequent and severe issues across heritage sites.
Architectural considerations:
Case study:
In 2020, over 130 historic sites in China were damaged during widespread flooding, including the Zhenhai Bridge and Mogao Caves, threatening millennia-old architectural artefacts and manuscripts.
Fluctuations in temperature contribute to material stress, which can cause structural cracking and weakening. Changes in freeze-thaw cycles are particularly impactful, especially for masonry. Approximately 47% of areas in Europe are experiencing a decline in freeze-thaw cycles, while 14% are seeing an increase—both patterns contributing to the accelerated degradation of building materials.
Higher temperatures also intensify chemical weathering, increasing the rate at which materials deteriorate. Vegetation patterns may shift, leading to the intrusion of non-native species that alter the historic landscape and potentially damage foundations or stonework through root invasion or soil destabilisation.
Extended periods of heat and dryness raise the likelihood of wildfires and droughts. These conditions can cause land subsidence, compromising the structural stability of historic buildings. Fires also directly endanger structures through exposure to heat, smoke, and flame.
The 2025 Los Angeles wildfires destroyed several works by modernist architects, including Ray Kappe, Richard Neutra, and Rudolph Schindler. Additionally, warmer and damper conditions promote the spread of pests such as booklice, termites, moths, and silverfish, which damage timber, textiles, and interior finishes.
A warmer atmosphere retains more moisture, resulting in intensified precipitation events. Alterations in atmospheric circulation also affect the location and intensity of rainfall. In the UK, winter rainfall has increased by 16% between 2015 and 2024 compared to 1961–1990 levels, and this is projected to rise to 25% in the coming decades. Flash flooding—defined as rainfall exceeding 30 mm per hour—is expected to become twice as frequent by 2070.
Predicted changes in Scotland by 2050 (Historic Environment Scotland Climate Change Team, Screening for Natural Hazards to Inform a Climate Change Risk Assessment of the Properties in the Care of Historic Scotland).
A range of strategies is being implemented to reduce the vulnerability of historic sites to climate change. These include comprehensive risk assessments, ongoing monitoring for flooding, fire, and drought, and the reinforcement of structures exposed to rising sea levels.
At a more granular level, material selection and maintenance practices have become increasingly important. In particular, attention to drainage systems is critical. Increased rainfall places stress on guttering and pipes, potentially leading to leaks, blockages, and structural damage from cracked or bent components.
Climate change presents a serious and multifaceted threat to historic buildings around the world. However, proactive decisions regarding adaptation, conservation, and maintenance can significantly reduce the risks. From the reinforcement of coastal sites to the selection of appropriate drainage materials, every detail matters in preserving our architectural heritage. It is essential to consider even the smallest components—such as gutter materials and coatings—as integral to the long-term resilience of these treasured structures.
Tuscan Foundry Products stands at the forefront of this effort, offering historically accurate, durable cast iron rainwater systems designed to meet modern climate challenges while honouring the character of period and listed buildings. With over a century of craftsmanship, bespoke solutions, and conservation expertise, Tuscan Foundry ensures that tradition and sustainability go hand in hand.
Article By Eliza Stenning
22/10/2025
