Coastal TALES Takes Centre Stage at COP29
The Coastal TALES project, led by the UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES (UK) hub at ϳԹ, has been invited to present at COP29, showcasing a compelling video at the “Bio-Cultural Heritage for the Future: Mobilizing the Past for Climate Resilience” event.
This significant occasion, hosted by the Joint Programming Initiative Connecting Climate Knowledge for Europe (JPI Climate) in collaboration with the Belmont Forum, spotlights research from the Belmont Forum’s Climate and Cultural Heritage Call. It aims to demonstrate how cultural heritage can inform and bolster efforts to mitigate the climate crisis.
Coastal TALES at the Forefront of Climate Solutions
Among the innovative transdisciplinary projects presented at the event, Coastal TALES, based at the ϳԹ (ϳԹ), stands out. This collaborative project, led by ϳԹ and involving researchers from Trinity College Dublin, Arizona State University, and the University of Washington, investigates how heritage stories can inspire creative, localised strategies for sustainable adaptation to climate change.
The video presentation, introduced by Prof. Louise Steel and Prof. Luci Attala, features stories from three distinct coastal communities in Alaska, Ireland, and Wales. These narratives illustrate how traditional knowledge and practices are being adapted in response to evolving climatic conditions.
Prof. Louise Steel, Director of Research at the UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES UK Hub at ϳԹ and Principal Investigator for Coastal TALES, commented: “Coastal TALES highlights the value of not only listening to but, more importantly, learning from the local and indigenous coastal populations at the frontline of climate change. Their wealth of traditional, ancestral knowledge provides innovative and sustainable solutions to help mitigate the effects of warming seas, coastal erosion, and the declining fish stocks. Embedding this knowledge within environmental sciences is an imperative for sustainable future thinking.”
Exploring the Coastal Narratives
- Kodiak Bay, Alaska: The Alutiiq community shares ancestral Indigenous fishing practices and storytelling traditions. These methods nurture relationships with the land and sea and provide culturally appropriate, sustainable solutions to subsistence challenges.
- Dublin Bay, Ireland: Research here combines oral histories with evidence from historical maps to highlight traditional, sustainable approaches to managing coastal erosion—offering alternatives to modern concrete defences.
- Wales: The project collaborates with coracle fishermen on the River Towy, Cardigan Bay Fish, and Câr y Môr, Pembrokeshire. The shared tales emphasise sensory, embodied knowledge of coastal and riverine landscapes, showcasing the importance of being attuned to the environment for sustainable practice.
Prof. Luci Attala, Deputy Executive Director of UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES and Director of the UNESCO-MOST BRIDGES UK Hub at ϳԹ, highlighted: “These communities remind us that solutions to climate issues often lie in practices honed over generations. By integrating these rich traditions with contemporary environmental science, we pave the way for more resilient, place-based responses to climate challenges.”
Welsh Fieldwork Showcased in the UK Pavilion
The ϳԹ team has also been invited by UKRI (AHRC) to present a showreel in the UK Pavilion at COP29. This film focuses on the Welsh fieldwork, spotlighting local efforts to tackle climate change. It illustrates the stark impacts of pollution and environmental degradation on fish stocks in West Wales while celebrating how community-based, traditional food production methods contribute to sustainable food security.
A Call to Learn and Integrate
Coastal TALES’ work embodies the essence of UNESCO’s BRIDGES initiative, part of the Management of Social Transformation programme aimed at addressing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through transdisciplinary research that includes the Humanities. The project champions the idea that traditional knowledge should be woven into environmental science to inspire forward-thinking and sustainable solutions.
Prof. Steel concluded: “Embedding these time-honoured practices within modern climate resilience strategies is not only a nod to cultural respect but an imperative step for creating a sustainable future.”
Further Information
Arwel Lloyd
Principal PR and Communications Officer
Corporate Communications and PR
Email: arwel.lloyd@uwtsd.ac.uk
Phone: 07384 467076