Heritage as Resistance

Cultural heritage is not a passive victim of climate change, but an active force for adaptation and justice. In Salvador, Bahia, Brazil, we examine Candomblé Terreiros—sacred Afro-Brazilian spaces where spiritual, ecological, and social stewardship are deeply intertwined. These living heritage sites, shaped by histories of colonialism and environmental racism, persist as sites of resistance and healing amid ongoing climate crises. Using a cosmopolitical lens, we explore how Terreiros challenge anthropocentric and Eurocentric climate adaptation narratives, offering Afro-Brazilian epistemologies for intergenerational justice and resilience. Our methodology, inspired by the “Preserving Legacies: A Future to Our Past” project, involved a participatory workshop with architecture students during the “Seminário Salvador e Suas Cores 2024”. Through cultural mapping, youth participants traced connections between heritage, climate, and injustice, voicing new perspectives on adaptation and equity. Our findings reveal that Terreiros’ heritage is not static, but a dynamic force—mobilizing communitarianism, fostering intergenerational dialogue, and inspiring more just, sustainable, and greener futures for Salvador.