FORECASTING GLOBAL WARMING'S MONUMENTAL IMPACT

This is a full copy of a brief note from Random Samples, Science, 15 June 2007 (Volume 316, Number 5831, Issue of 15 June 2007).

"If you plan to see the Coliseum, Notre Dame, and other European landmarks, the new Vulnerability Atlas might help you decide which ones to visit first--before climate change ruins them. Aimed at policymakers and preservationists, the atlas roughly maps how climate change caused by global warming could harm the continent's historical monuments, statues, and buildings over the next century. Produced by Noah's Ark, a 3-year, €1.2 million project sponsored by the European Commission, the atlas marries climate modeling with research on how wood, stone, glass, and other materials are damaged by climate-influenced factors. For example, it shows where in Europe attacks by wood-destroying fungi may increase because of warmer, wetter weather.

"Cristina Sabbioni, a physicist at the Institute for Sciences of the Atmosphere and Climate in Bologna, Italy, who coordinated the project, says it's a "shame" that more attention has been paid to the impact of climate change on the skiing industry than on Europe's historical treasures. But attitudes may be changing. Later this month, UNESCO will call for research on how climate change endangers cultural heritage globally, notes May Cassar of University College London's Centre for Sustainable Heritage. "Noah's Ark just scratched the surface," she says."

FORECASTING GLOBAL WARMING'S MONUMENTAL IMPACT

This is a full copy of a brief note from Random Samples, Science, 15 June 2007 (Volume 316, Number 5831, Issue of 15 June 2007).

"If you plan to see the Coliseum, Notre Dame, and other European landmarks, the new Vulnerability Atlas might help you decide which ones to visit first--before climate change ruins them. Aimed at policymakers and preservationists, the atlas roughly maps how climate change caused by global warming could harm the continent's historical monuments, statues, and buildings over the next century. Produced by Noah's Ark, a 3-year, €1.2 million project sponsored by the European Commission, the atlas marries climate modeling with research on how wood, stone, glass, and other materials are damaged by climate-influenced factors. For example, it shows where in Europe attacks by wood-destroying fungi may increase because of warmer, wetter weather.

"Cristina Sabbioni, a physicist at the Institute for Sciences of the Atmosphere and Climate in Bologna, Italy, who coordinated the project, says it's a "shame" that more attention has been paid to the impact of climate change on the skiing industry than on Europe's historical treasures. But attitudes may be changing. Later this month, UNESCO will call for research on how climate change endangers cultural heritage globally, notes May Cassar of University College London's Centre for Sustainable Heritage. "Noah's Ark just scratched the surface," she says."

UNESCO and Cultural Industries

It should not be a surprise to Americans that cultural industries are big business, given the economic importance of the movies, television, radio, recording, publishing and the theater in this country. It may be more of a surprise that cultural industries are becoming increasingly important in the international commerce of developing nations.

The Internet is the latest of the information and communications technologies making the world a smaller place. Cultural tourism is increasingly important, not only as people have more chance to experience the cultures of developing nations vicariously by traditional media, but personally with the help of arrangements for travel and lodging made via the Internet. E-commerce in products from traditional craftspeople and music has exploded in recent years -- another impact of the Internet.

The expansion of international trade of the cultural industries of poor nations enriches American consumers by allowing us access to whole new worlds of cultural riches. It supports the social and economic development of those countries not only by providing hard currency and jobs, but by providing recognition for the values of their traditional cultures and supporting cultural changes that contribute to social and economic development. Moreover, cultural industries are an effective way to fight poverty, since often those people with the least money have the craft, musical and other skills that can be tapped for productive and remunerative employment in cultural industries.

Still, the world map of cultural industries reveals a yawning gap between North and South. UNESCO is working to strengthen cultural industry capacities in developing nations and facilitating their access to global markets at national level by way of new partnerships, know-how, control of piracy and increased international solidarity of every kind.

• For a comprehensive understanding of cultural industries, browse 25 questions and answers and explore key concepts and ideas related to culture and trade in the context of globalization.
• Consult also the working documents of the expert meetings, seminars, regional consultations and conferences held from 1998 to 2002 and, as a basic reference, the Florence Agreement.
• Creative Cities Networks

Go to the UNESCO website for its program on cultural industries.

UNESCO and Cultural Industries

It should not be a surprise to Americans that cultural industries are big business, given the economic importance of the movies, television, radio, recording, publishing and the theater in this country. It may be more of a surprise that cultural industries are becoming increasingly important in the international commerce of developing nations.

The Internet is the latest of the information and communications technologies making the world a smaller place. Cultural tourism is increasingly important, not only as people have more chance to experience the cultures of developing nations vicariously by traditional media, but personally with the help of arrangements for travel and lodging made via the Internet. E-commerce in products from traditional craftspeople and music has exploded in recent years -- another impact of the Internet.

The expansion of international trade of the cultural industries of poor nations enriches American consumers by allowing us access to whole new worlds of cultural riches. It supports the social and economic development of those countries not only by providing hard currency and jobs, but by providing recognition for the values of their traditional cultures and supporting cultural changes that contribute to social and economic development. Moreover, cultural industries are an effective way to fight poverty, since often those people with the least money have the craft, musical and other skills that can be tapped for productive and remunerative employment in cultural industries.

Still, the world map of cultural industries reveals a yawning gap between North and South. UNESCO is working to strengthen cultural industry capacities in developing nations and facilitating their access to global markets at national level by way of new partnerships, know-how, control of piracy and increased international solidarity of every kind.

• For a comprehensive understanding of cultural industries, browse 25 questions and answers and explore key concepts and ideas related to culture and trade in the context of globalization.
• Consult also the working documents of the expert meetings, seminars, regional consultations and conferences held from 1998 to 2002 and, as a basic reference, the Florence Agreement.
• Creative Cities Networks

Go to the UNESCO website for its program on cultural industries.