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Climate change has increased the intensity and frequency of disaster events worldwide, which in turn, has forced modern civilisation to reflect on the resilience of its built and natural environments. Within this broader context, urban areas have been forced to adapt to cope with the increasing risk of disaster events, with adaptions often having a direct impact on cultural heritage, especially where this heritage is exposed to the consequences of adaptation that are unplanned or unforeseen. Cultural heritage is, therefore, being reconsidered as an untapped 'opportunity space' disputed by international organisations and stakeholders. These stakeholders include local communities, external visitors, heritage experts and urban planners. Overcoming the challenges raised by the simultaneous urban adaptation to climate change and conservation of cultural heritage, requires these stakeholders and decision-makers to enter a ‘trading zone’. The trading zone is considered a space where stakeholders can negotiate conflicting or contradictory objectives and explore potential trade-offs between heritage preservation and climate change adaptation, leading to mutually beneficial outcomes. Building such a trading zone requires an appreciation of governance but evidence suggests there is a lack of understanding of governance structures related to climate change, including disaster risk management, disaster risk reduction and climate adaptation. Greater clarity about who does what, how they do it and when they do it within the context of climate change, especially disaster events, would help to facilitate this trading zone, helping to identify potential situations …