Ancient Hydro-Technologies as a Response to Climate and Food Emergencies: Use of Cultural Heritage to Rescue the Future

Jordi Morató; José Luis Martín; Olga Lucia Sánchez

doi:10.58981/bluepapers.2025.1.04

Ancient Hydro-Technologies as a Response to Climate and Food Emergencies: Use of Cultural Heritage to Rescue the Future

Authors

Jordi Morató UNESCO Chair on Sustainability at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
José Luis Martín UNESCO Chair on Sustainability at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya
Olga Lucia Sánchez UNESCO Chair on Sustainability at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.58981/bluepapers.2025.1.04

Keywords:

ancient hydro-technologies, nature-based solutions, climate emergency, SETs, WEFE Nexus

Abstract

The Mediterranean region faces worsening climate challenges, including rising temperatures, water scarcity and ecosystem degradation. Climate projections indicate a temperature increase of up to 6.5°C by 2100, with reduced rainfall and increased evaporation exacerbating water shortages, particularly in agriculture, which consumes 70–80 per cent of the region’s water. Competition for freshwater, declining agricultural productivity, and salinization of coastal aquifers further threaten sustainability. Ancient hydro-technologies—traditional water management systems developed by ancient civilizations—offer valuable insights for climate adaptation. Examples include Minoan rainwater harvesting, Roman aqueducts and the qanats originating in what is now Iran, which prioritized water conservation, efficient irrigation, and flood control. These systems, designed in harmony with nature, exemplify sustainability, resilience and multifunctionality, contributing to biodiversity conservation and climate adaptation. To scale up ancient hydro-technologies, integrated governance, legal recognition, capacity building and interdisciplinary research are essential. International cooperation and financial resources can help preserve and adapt these traditional solutions to modern challenges, integrating them into the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus (WEFE Nexus) framework for sustainable water, energy, food, and ecosystem management.

How to Cite

Morató, J., Luis Martín, J., & Sánchez, O. L. (2025). Ancient Hydro-Technologies as a Response to Climate and Food Emergencies: Use of Cultural Heritage to Rescue the Future. Blue Papers, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.58981/bluepapers.2025.1.04

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Published

2025-03-03

Issue

Vol. 4 No. 1 (2025): Water & Heritage for Sustainable Development

Section

challenges, concepts and new approaches

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Author Biographies

Jordi Morató, UNESCO Chair on Sustainability at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

Dr. Jordi Morató holds a PhD in microbiology from the Autonomous University of Barcelona and has served as the director of the UNESCO Chair on Sustainability at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia since 2008. He is a founding member of the RECYCLING THE CITY (RECNET) network (www.recitynet.org), a member of the coordinating committee of the NATURA Network (natura-net.org) and he coordinates the SureNexus project (surenexus.eu). He also serves on the Advisory Committee of the UNESCO Global Network of Water Museums. Dr. Morató is the author of 15 books and 65 peer-reviewed research papers

José Luis Martín, UNESCO Chair on Sustainability at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

José Luis Martín is a civil engineer and water expert with over 15 years of experience in the United Nations system. Collaborator of the UNESCO Chair on Sustainability, he has focused on enhancing the capacities of water and sanitation utilities in the Global South, serving as an officer in charge of the Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance of UN-Habitat in Nairobi and Barcelona. His work encompasses groundwater resources management, transboundary water cooperation and urban water management within UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme in Paris.

Olga Lucia Sánchez, UNESCO Chair on Sustainability at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya

Olga Lucía Sanchez is the project promoter at the UNESCO Chair on Sustainability. A physical engineer from the University of Cauca with a master’s degree in mechatronic systems from the University of Brasília, she has experience in researching new materials, designing experimental processes and developing block materials using instrumental analysis and characterization techniques. She also has extensive experience in public investment projects and collaboration with ethnic communities.

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