From June-August 2026, the National Trust for Historic Preservation in partnership with Built Buildings Lab presented a three part series on Heritage Now! a global campaign advancing heritage-informed decarbonization strategies that connect climate action, cultural heritage, and community resilience.

Watch the recordings for all three sessions and explore additional resources below.

Introducing the Heritage Now! Campaign

Climate action in the built environment often focuses on new technologies and new construction—but most of the opportunity for impact lies in the buildings, places, and knowledge we already have. This webinar introduced Heritage Now! – a global campaign advancing heritage-informed decarbonization strategies that connect climate action, cultural heritage, and community resilience. Learn how building reuse, retrofit, and traditional building practices can help reduce carbon emissions while supporting sustainable communities. Participants heard about the scope and purpose of this international campaign and how they can join and contribute.

Links

• Join the Heritage Now Campaign
• About the Decarbonizing the Built Environment Through Heritage Toolkit (SavingPlaces.org)
• Decarbonizing the Built Environment Through Heritage Toolkit

Heritage-Informed Decarbonization Around the Globe

Communities worldwide are developing innovative programs and policies that reduce carbon emissions through building reuse, retrofit, and traditional practices. Drawing from the new Decarbonizing the Built Environment through Heritage Toolkit, this webinar highlighted practical examples and case studies demonstrating how preservation and climate goals can work together. Participants explored policies supporting adaptive reuse, embodied carbon reduction, and traditional low-carbon building practices. Learn how heritage-informed approaches help communities create more sustainable, resilient, and climate-positive futures.

Links

• Landmarks Illinois: Relevancy Guidebook
• Built hEritage sustAinable CONservation (BEACON)

Implementing Heritage-Informed Decarbonization Policies

Effective climate action requires practical strategies for implementation and advocacy. This webinar explored how communities and organizations can advance heritage-informed decarbonization policies that support building reuse, retrofit, and low-carbon building practices. Participants heard lessons learned from successful advocacy campaigns to integrate heritage-based decarbonization strategies into local climate policy. The session included strategies and tools for communicating the environmental benefits of reusing and retrofitting older and historic buildings.

Links

• Historic England: Retrofit and Energy Efficiency Guidance
• Historic England: Adapting historic buildings for energy and carbon efficiency advice note (HEAN 18)
• Historic England: Helping your organisation to net zero
• Historic England: Finding specialist help
• Historic England: Retrofit course handbook
• City of Los Angeles: Adaptive Reuse
• City of San Antonio: Deconstruction ordinance/program
• City of San Antonio:Treasure in the Walls study
• City of San Antonio:Circular San Antonio
• City of San Antonio: Deconstruction training feature
• Heritage Adapts/Preservation Legacies
• Heritage Now Campaign
• SavingPlaces.org: Historic Tax Credits
• Decarbonizing the Built Environment Through Heritage Toolkit