By Amira Sayed Cairo, April 18, 2018 - On World Heritage Day, which falls on April 18 every year, climate change and its far-reaching impact on archaeological sites were the subject of numerous discussions worldwide, whose aim was to raise public awareness of the historical environment and combine efforts to conserve it. In Egypt, which is a treasure trove of historical sites, the 52nd Cairo Climate Talks brought together experts from the government and public sector and representatives of NGOs and diverse research institutes to highlight the vulnerability of many archaeological sites nationwide and to tackle details of the adaptation and intervention methods that need to be used to protect these sites. According to international and local studies, the threat posed by climate change is more challenging in Egypt, because of the vast heritage it contains and the rapid way the threat is growing in severity, which could bring the archaeological sites to the verge of destruction. The deplorable condition of the El Nadora Temple in El-Kharga Oasis, the New Valley governorate, is a strikingexample of the deterioration of some heritage sites that could not withstand climate change. This temple has lost around 42.5 per cent of its original size. If the rate of weathering further increases, major landmarks, symbols and inscriptions will completely disappear by 2150. High temperatures, low precipitation levels, and high winds are the reasons for the deterioration. "Egypt is not responsible for the climate change. It is affected by it. In fact, the climate change issue is new in Egypt, but its effects are growing rapidly. Therefore, more preventive and adaptive measures are strongly recommended," Tatiana Villegas, Culture Programme Specialist at UNESCO's Regional Bureau for Sciences in the Arab states, told The Egyptian Gazette. In 2016, UNESCO and the Union of Concerned Scientists published a report, stating that heritage sites all over the world were already threatened and that more threats were yet to come. "Cultural heritage sites serve as climate change observatories. With the growing threat of climate change, these sites, which are a roadmap to modern life, may disappear. Future generations will not see their ancestors' heritage and learn about their identity," the UNESCO official added to The Egyptian Gazette. Rising sea levels pose a serious threat to ancient monuments near bodies of water. During the recent floods in Alexandria, many Roman-styled buildings in the were damaged beyond repair. More worryingly, air pollution has caused the deterioration and erosion of many archaeological sites. "The UNESCO organises and takes part in many workshops and platforms to discuss the various mitigating and adaptive measures that can be adopted. We are keen on supporting any initiative launched by the government to address this challenge. We submit proposals and make recommendations. Of course, more tangible steps are to be taken soon," Villegas said. "Protecting such a priceless heritage is very difficult, but it is definitely important," she added. Villegas told the Gazette that the media's role could not be overlooked. "There should be climate change journalists who are specialised and fully aware of all the reports and updates related to this issue. The media has a crucial role to play in promoting and transferring knowledge about climate change, bearing in mind that the human factor exacerbates the climate change conditions. The media should focus on this issue and draw public attention to the spectre haunting both the cultural and natural heritage of Egypt. The natural heritage includes the unique medicinal plants that used to grow abundantly in St Catherine, but they have been harmed by the climate change. Addressing the 52nd Cairo Climate Talks, Dr Rudolph Kuperl, a senior professor at the University of Cologne in Germany, outlined two key recommendations that should be taken into consideration when addressing climate change. "It is essential to limit bureaucracy and routine archaeology and to increase awareness of the threat," said Dr Kuperl, who has concluded a research on the effect of climate change on sites in Egypt's Western Desert.
