Cultural Erosion: The Climate Threat to Latino Heritage Report

Latinos in the United States are facing challenges to their health, safety, food security, livelihoods, and cultural legacy as a result of the severity of climate change's consequences. The impacts of climate change on cultural heritage, and consequently on the mental health, traditional knowledge, and identity of U.S. Latinos, are, nevertheless, often ignored.

This report aims to elevate these issues by discussing the connections between Latino communities, history, well-being, and climate change. It answers the question of what Latino heritage is, why it matters, and how it is affected by climate change and the legacies of colonialism – and how, in turn, heritage protection can be a climate and equity solution. The report features case studies of both climate threats and solutions for heritage preservation, along with a set of policy recommendations to better preserve all aspects of Latino heritage from the threats it faces.