#British Antarctic Territory

Publié le 15/07/2025, mis à jour le 02/03/2026

Preserving heritage in the face of climate change

  • Context

    British historic sites in Antarctica bear witness to a unique scientific and exploratory history. Today, these sites are exposed to increasingly extreme climatic conditions, including melting ice, rising humidity, high winds and increased variability in weather conditions. These developments are weakening the original structures and materials, some of which are centuries old.

  • Stakes and objectives

    Identify precisely the climatic risks weighing on each heritage site in order to prioritize interventions and guide medium- and long-term conservation strategies.

    The aim is to sustainably preserve a heritage of international importance while taking into account the logistical constraints specific to the Antarctic environment.

    Stakeholders

    UK Antarctic Heritage Trust, British Antarctic Territory authorities, scientific and technical experts.

    Facility description

    The Facility assesses the vulnerability of historic sites based on up-to-date climate data, geographical analysis and field observations.

    A structured risk assessment tool is applied to compare threats to different sites, taking into account environmental conditions, structural condition and exposure to climatic hazards.

    This approach makes it possible to prioritize conservation interventions, optimize resource allocation and strengthen the heritage protection strategy in a context of accelerated climate change.

    Expected deliverables

    • Detailed climate risk assessment by heritage site
    • Structured tool for prioritizing interventions
    • Consolidated report of conservation recommendations
    • Medium-term action plan for site protection