In Norway and throughout the world, predicted climate change will lead to higher temperatures and increased rainfall. A changing climate is nothing new, yet the speed of current changes presents increasing challenges for heritage management bodies, among others. Working with Norwegian municipalities, we have seen a need to strengthen the link between retrospective onsite analysis and future climate-change adaption. The article therefore presents examples of how local heritage management can be improved by examining how past societies adapted their buildings and landscapes in the face of extreme weather conditions. We aim to show that combining retrospective on-site evaluation and local climate-adaption analysis can support integrated planning. A further aim is to propose a new approach for knowledge-based climate-change adaption strategies at a municipal level. The proposed approach is based on a study of published guidelines and articles that discuss heritage management in a changing climate, alongside an analysis of three completed projects. Many of the articles state that they would welcome new methods for adapting heritage to climate change. Some of the authors examine how past societies adapted their buildings and landscapes to the climate. Yet they do not discuss this historical perspective as a feasible analytical tool within a methodology for adapting cultural heritage to climate change. Instead they call for interdisciplinary methods, involving interested parties where heritage typologies are included and analysed. When developing our new approach, we took into account the expressed needs, pros and cons, and identifiable knowledge gaps, either in the literature or the presented projects. The article’s proposed approach has been developed in cooperation with Skedsmo municipality in Norway, where it was tested too. The interdisciplinary working group featured competence from both the heritage and climate sectors. Heritage typologies were analysed, such as buildings, landscapes and archaeological sites. Also included was a historical perspective on climate adaption. The retrospective approach of the assessment concerning the historic climate adaptation was a crucial part of the work. Including a historical perspective when devising a climate-change adaption plan proved to have both advantages and limitations. Historical information does not provide holistic answers, and any data so collected must be analysed in a critical light. Working groups must ensure they do not apply contemporary values and views to information obtained in this way. The proposed approach, if adopted by heritage management, will benefit local authorities and increase the quality of heritage management and future planning by municipalities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]