To address the climate threats, the Palace Museum needs to strengthen weather monitoring and risk assessment, and take appropriate preventive and responsive measures to safeguard cultural relics in the museum. For example, a number of seismic, waterproof and anti-pollution techniques and materials have been used in the design and restoration of the buildings. In addition, the National Palace Museum can also establish institutions such as heritage conservation centers and heritage storage centers for the professional protection and management of cultural relics.
1.Strengthening building protection
The Palace Museum is one of the representatives of ancient Chinese architecture, and it is especially important to strengthen the protection of the buildings in the face of climate change. To this end, technical means, such as the addition of shading facilities, ventilation equipment, waterproofing and drainage systems, can be used to reduce the buildings’ sensitivity to climate and extend their service life.
2.Strengthening environmental protection
Beijing, the city where the Palace Museum is located, is a large city, and urbanization has had a non-negligible impact on the local ecological environment. In order to mitigate the effects of climate change, the protection of the local ecological environment of the Palace Museum can be strengthened, such as adopting energy-saving measures, strengthening waste separation and disposal, and promoting low-carbon travel.
3.Promote cultural education
The Palace Museum has a rich cultural and historical heritage, and through education and promotion more people can learn about the impact of climate change on cultural heritage, thus increasing public awareness and participation in cultural heritage protection. In addition, digital preservation and dissemination of cultural heritage can be strengthened to reduce the reliance on physical cultural heritage and reduce the impact of climate change on physical cultural heritage.
4.Strengthening monitoring and early warning
Climate change is unpredictable, so a perfect monitoring and early warning mechanism needs to be established. Meteorological monitoring, hydrological monitoring and other means can be used to keep abreast of climate change in the Palace Museum, predict possible disasters and take timely measures to respond.
5.Backup and emergency transfer
The cultural relics and artworks in the Palace Museum are precious cultural heritage, and in order to ensure their safety, a perfect backup and emergency transfer mechanism needs to be established. In the face of natural disasters and other emergencies, the Palace can take emergency transfer measures to move cultural relics and works of art to safety.
Official preservation: Institute of Conservation Science
https://en.dpm.org.cn/exhibitions/current/2015-09-30/2285.html