Intangible cultural heritage is threatened by climate change: adaptation measures for human tower exhibitions

Purpose Human tower exhibitions were declared a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2010. The rising temperatures increase the likelihood of adverse weather coinciding with a human tower exhibition, thereby causing greater thermal discomfort. The objectives of this study are to identify potential measures to adapt human tower exhibitions to climate change and to classify these measures based on priority and feasibility. Design/methodology/approach The findings were gathered through workshops involving 109 castellers from 10 teams (colles castelleres). Participants were encouraged to brainstorm potential adaptation measures to address unfavourable weather conditions during summer human tower exhibitions, particularly in terms of high temperature, humidity and direct sunlight. The castellers wrote the adaptation measures on stickers and collectively distributed them along a chart paper. The distribution considered both the priority and the feasibility axes, using a 5-point Likert scale in which 1 indicated very low priority/feasibility and 5 indicated very high priority/feasibility. Findings The results show a wide range of adaptation measures. The measures were classified into six categories: the time of day the human tower exhibitions are scheduled; the duration of the exhibition; the physical location of the exhibitions; the provision of food and hydration for the castellers during the exhibition; the equipment used, particularly the shirts worn by the castellers; and logistical health measures provided by the human tower exhibition organisers. Originality/value Castellers and exhibition organisers need to discuss what adaptation measures should be implemented to prioritise the participants' safety while also maintaining the richness and identity that the human towers represent.