Risk Management for Cultural and Natural Heritage in Times of Climate Change

The INACO project consortium is pleased to invite researchers, heritage practitioners, civil protection experts, local authorities and policymakers to the INACO Final Conference 'Risk Management for Cultural and Natural Heritage in Times of Climate Change'.
Hosted in the historic Esterházy Castle in Eisenstadt, Austria, and organised within the Interreg Central Europe project INACO, the conference marks the culmination of four years of transnational cooperation dedicated to strengthening the resilience of cultural and natural heritage in the face of climate change.

About the Conference:

Climate change and extreme weather events pose unprecedented challenges to cultural and natural heritage across Central Europe and beyond. The INACO Final Conference brings together innovative methodologies, digital tools and practical experiences to explore how cultural and natural heritage can be better protected in times of increasing environmental risks.

The conference programme is structured around three thematic sessions that address key dimensions of heritage risk management, from governance and preparedness to digital innovation and practical implementation across diverse heritage contexts:
 

Session 1: From Risk to Preparedness – Governance, Cooperation and Co-Creation

The first session focuses on the human and institutional foundations of heritage risk management. Discussions will address the emerging role of the Risk Manager for Cultural and Natural Heritage, interdisciplinary capacity-building and the integration of heritage protection into existing civil protection structures. Participants will explore how risk knowledge can be translated into concrete preparedness measures, long-term cooperation frameworks and risk-management plans developed together with local stakeholders.

Session 2: From Data to Decisions – Digital Tools and Climate Information for Heritage Risk Management

The second session highlights the growing role of climate information, data and technology in supporting informed decision-making. Presentations will showcase digital tools, vulnerability assessment methods and spatial risk-mapping approaches developed within INACO and related initiatives. Further topics include the use of climate information in cross-border contexts, advanced 3D documentation and monitoring technologies, as well as innovative decision-support systems based on GIS and GeoAI applications.

Session 3: Heritage under Pressure – Applying Risk Management across Sites and Landscapes

The final session moves from concepts and tools to real-world application. Drawing on experiences from INACO pilot sites and international case studies, speakers will discuss how risk-management approaches can be adapted to different heritage types, environmental hazards and geographical contexts. Topics range from riverine cultural landscapes and urban flood preparedness to citizen monitoring initiatives and the resilience of archives and documentary heritage institutions.

Event Details:

Date: 11 November 2026
Time: 09:00-16:00 CET
Venue: Esterházy Castle (Esterházyplatz 1, 7000 Eisenstadt / Austria)
Working Language: English

Participation: Free of charge
Please confirm your participation by: October 26^th 2026 at INACO Conference Registration
Travel & accommodation: Please note that travel and accommodation expenses are not covered by the organizers and must be arranged independently
Further information: INACO Final Conference webpage    

We look forward to welcoming you to Eisenstadt and exchanging ideas on how to strengthen the resilience of Europe's cultural and natural heritage in a changing climate!
All updates will be sent to the email address provided during registration.
If you have any inquiries, please reach out to zkgs@donau-uni.ac.at.