Marginalised communities frequently bear the brunt of the impacts of climate change, they are often underfunded, under-resourced and excluded from discussions about sustainability. As the impacts of climate change increase and threaten our buildings and places, it is more important than ever that we support everyone to get involved with making a more sustainable future.

This anthology is an edited and documented collection of a series of lectures organised by the Scottish Civic Trust to coincide with the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow (COP26). The purpose was to enquire into the inextricable links between conservation of the historic built environment and issues of community equity in the face of the climate crisis.

When we look after historic buildings, we engage with climate change in very practical ways, for example how buildings are impacted by changes in rainfall or erosion. We also strive to make heritage sites and collections more equitable by removing barriers and increasing opportunities for participation for all members of our communities. In reality, we cannot tackle the climate crisis or improve equity without considering how these are interlinked.

Each of the contributions exemplify the ways in which we need to pay attention to the interconnectedness of place, past, climate, and wellbeing. From our own local neighbourhoods and vernacular traditions to wider, global initiatives, we need to look at the intersection of heritage, equity and the climate crisis in order to have meaningful conversations about how to work together to preserve the past and make our future more sustainable.