Climate change poses an urgent challenge to archives, threatening their existence, integrity, and accessibility. In response, the “Archives and Climate Change” booklet was designed as an educational and practical tool offering concrete guidelines for risk assessment, heritage protection, mitigation planning, and promoting sustainability within archival practice. This presentation introduces the creation process and potential impact of the booklet in building resilient and eco-friendly university archives.
The presentation will explore the booklet’s content and structure in depth, divided into three key sections:
(1)Flood risk assessment and methodologies for analyzing archival vulnerabilities.
(2)Short- and long-term strategies to reduce the environmental footprint or climate shadow of archival services, including best practices and recommendations for sustainable management.
(3)Design of emergency plans tailored to climate change impacts, with practical guides and case studies.
The aim is to encourage the use of the booklet as an essential tool for the archival community, promoting its adaptation to various contexts and fostering the integration of sustainable strategies in archival management. The session will also open a discussion on the importance of developing more educational resources that address the effects of climate change on archives and their role in preserving institutional and social memory.
Examples of the booklet’s implementation in different types of archives will be presented, with a focus on university and research institutions, reflecting on its applicability in shaping institutional policies for documentary heritage protection. Feedback from early adopters will also be analyzed.