I argue that, compared to other types of non-economic loss and damage, social limits to adaptation shift more markedly over time for intangible cultural heritage.

Faced with disruptions in the ‘natural evolution’ of intangible cultural heritage, affected communities respond through practical, organisational, culture grounded and psychology informed actions.

Biophysical constraints – hard or impossible to overcome – are present in all cases. Governance-related constraints – which, in principle at least, can be overcome – are present in some of the cases.