Climate crisis and cultural heritage management

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Climate change poses significant threats to cultural heritage sites, particularly coastal regions. This study focused on the Side Ancient City in Antalya, Türkiye, examining the impacts of sea-level rise, coastal erosion, extreme temperatures, construction, and earthquakes on its historical and archaeological integrity. Unlike previous studies, this study employed a holistic risk analysis framework. METHODS: The study integrated a literature review, field observations, GIS-based spatial analysis, and comparative case studies to assess the vulnerability of Side to climate-induced hazards. This multi-method approach enabled a more precise evaluation of risks affecting key historical structures. FINDINGS: Side has experienced magnitude 5-6 earthquakes in the last 120 years, a 4.45% loss of green areas in 15 years, and a 20-fold increase in built-up area, rising from 0.84% in 1953 to 16.8% in 2010 over 57 years. The average temperature increased from 17.1°C (1979) to 18.5°C (2023). Climate change is projected to raise the sea level on the Side coast by 2-2.2 meters. Despite its tourism significance, local-scale visitor data is lacking. CONCLUSION: The study proposed a multi-faceted adaptation strategy to mitigate risks, including coastal defense measures, improved drainage systems, climate-resilient restoration materials, and seismic retrofitting of vulnerable structures. Additionally, it recommended policy reforms and tourism management strategies to support conservation efforts. The research offered a transferable model for protecting coastal archaeological sites from climate-induced and seismic hazards by aligning site preservation with broader climate adaptation frameworks. The study contributed to global heritage conservation by highlighting the urgent need for proactive and interdisciplinary approaches to safeguard cultural landmarks against accelerating environmental change.