Climate action

Climate change Climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g. by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forces, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use is one of the most pressing threats for the planet, human societies and, so too, for World Heritage properties and other heritage places. According to the Third Cycle of Periodic Reporting A statutory requirement of the World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. that requests States Parties The countries that have ratified the World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. . By ratifying the Convention, States Parties commit themselves to undertake actions directed to:identifying, knowing, protecting and promoting the cultural and natural heritage located on their territories;adopting a general policy aiming to give their cultural and natural heritage a function in the life of the community;integrating the protection of that heritage into comprehensive planning programmes;setting up services for the protection, conservation and presentation of the cultural and natural heritage with an appropriate staff and possessing the means to carry out their functions;developing scientific and technical studies and research to counteract the dangers that threaten their cultural or natural heritage;taking the appropriate legal, scientific, technical, administrative and financial measures necessary for the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and rehabilitation of their heritage;
• fostering the establishment or development of national or regional centres for
training in the protection, conservation and presentation of their cultural and
natural heritage;encouraging scientific research in this field.As members of the international community and while respecting the sovereignty of each State, States Parties to the Convention also recognize their duty to collectively contribute to the protection of the properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. Therefore, upon request by other States Parties to the World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. , they may provide their help in the identification, protection, conservation and presentation of the cultural and natural heritage located on the territory of those countries. Each State Party to the World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. undertakes not to take any deliberate measures that might damage, directly or indirectly, the cultural and natural heritage situated on the territory of other States Parties to the Convention.States Parties identify and nominate sites on their national territory to be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List. Once inscribed, States Parties assume the primary responsibility for the protection of those properties and to do all they can to achieve this purpose. They are also requested to report periodically on the state of conservation of those properties as well as on the provisions they have adopted to implement the Convention. to submit a report usually every six years on the legislative and administrative provisions they have adopted and other actions that they have taken for the application of the Convention, including the state of conservation of the World Heritage properties located on their territories. , fast-moving climate change impacts are affecting cultural World Heritage properties, for example, by exposing heritage structures to extreme weather events, shifting hydrological regimes and/ or accelerating the retreat of coastlines. The IUCN World Heritage Outlook periodically assesses the conservation prospects for all natural and mixed World Heritage properties, and in the third assessment update of 2020, climate change was assessed as a high or very high threat in a third of all natural World Heritage properties – up from 26% in 2017 and from 15% in 2014.

Paradoxically, the promising potential and capacity of nature to attenuate climate change is hampered by climate change-driven ecosystem degradation. For example, coral reef systems, which are important carbon sinks, are facing an unprecedented series of mass bleaching events associated with global warming. These impacts are not just localized but trigger other impacts, acting in a domino effect with the potential to affect associated ecosystems and beyond. Coral reefs as a natural coastal defence can act as a buffer for coastlines. However, their capacity to reduce coastal flooding and erosion by dissipating wave energy can be decimated or lost due to global warming.

Hence, climate change is both a direct threat and a threat multiplier, exacerbating the vulnerability of World Heritage properties towards environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. Climate change Climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g. by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forces, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use and invasive alien species are closely linked threats in many World Heritage properties. Such multiplier threats can trigger ecosystem fragmentation and be further worsened by a lack of ecological connectivity. It is therefore important to embrace at-scale system thinking to find innovative and holistic solutions to address climate change impacts.

The unparalleled global profile and network of World Heritage can mobilize significant levels of political and public support for climate action. World Heritage can, and should be, an exemplar to showcase collective advocacy and increase awareness on the impacts of climate change on human societies, cultural and biological diversity, and ecosystem services.

A dedicated strategy and a policy document on climate change and World Heritage have been in place for almost two decades, complemented by a policy on sustainable development adopted in 2015 along with other resources. In 2023, the Policy Document on Climate Action for World Heritage was adopted by the UNESCO General Assembly of States Parties The countries that have ratified the World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. . By ratifying the Convention, States Parties commit themselves to undertake actions directed to:identifying, knowing, protecting and promoting the cultural and natural heritage located on their territories;adopting a general policy aiming to give their cultural and natural heritage a function in the life of the community;integrating the protection of that heritage into comprehensive planning programmes;setting up services for the protection, conservation and presentation of the cultural and natural heritage with an appropriate staff and possessing the means to carry out their functions;developing scientific and technical studies and research to counteract the dangers that threaten their cultural or natural heritage;taking the appropriate legal, scientific, technical, administrative and financial measures necessary for the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and rehabilitation of their heritage;
• fostering the establishment or development of national or regional centres for
training in the protection, conservation and presentation of their cultural and
natural heritage;encouraging scientific research in this field.As members of the international community and while respecting the sovereignty of each State, States Parties to the Convention also recognize their duty to collectively contribute to the protection of the properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. Therefore, upon request by other States Parties to the World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. , they may provide their help in the identification, protection, conservation and presentation of the cultural and natural heritage located on the territory of those countries. Each State Party to the World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. undertakes not to take any deliberate measures that might damage, directly or indirectly, the cultural and natural heritage situated on the territory of other States Parties to the Convention.States Parties identify and nominate sites on their national territory to be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List. Once inscribed, States Parties assume the primary responsibility for the protection of those properties and to do all they can to achieve this purpose. They are also requested to report periodically on the state of conservation of those properties as well as on the provisions they have adopted to implement the Convention. to the World Heritage Convention The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international treaty adopted by the UN in 1972 that defines the kind of natural or cultural sites which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List for their Outstanding Universal Value for all humankind. Commonly known as the World Heritage Convention, it establishes how the international community as a whole is responsible for
the protection of such heritage and sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential sites that may be eligible for inscription onto the World Heritage List and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the Convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the sites situated on its territory that have been recognized as being of Outstanding Universal Value, but also to protect its national heritage and to be involved in international efforts to protect, conserve and promote the heritage of humankind. providing four goals:

1. Assessing climate change risks to World Heritage;
2. Climate change Climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g. by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forces, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use adaptation;
3. Climate change Climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g. by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forces, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use mitigation;
4. Knowledge sharing, capacity-building and awareness-raising.

Climate change Climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g. by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forces, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use and increasingly extreme weather events have caused a surge in disasters caused by natural hazards over the past 50 years. From 1970 to 2019 worldwide, weather and climate hazards accounted for 50% of all disasters, 45% of all reported deaths and 74% of all reported economic losses thus leaving an increasing number of people more vulnerable each year, particularly society’s poorest and most marginalized groups.

Climate change Climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g. by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forces, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use in relation to environmental degradation can be both a consequence and a driver of disasters, by directly reducing ecosystem functionalities and capacities as a natural protection and coping mechanism in reducing and adapting to disaster risks. For instance, UNESCO estimates that about half of all natural World Heritage All inherited assets that people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions of humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc. properties prevent disasters such as floods or landslides.

The forthcoming resource manual Managing Disaster A serious disruption of the functioning of a community or a society due to hazards interacting with conditions of exposure, vulnerability and capacity, causing widespread human, material, economic or environmental and heritage losses and impacts, which exceed the ability of the affected community or society to cope using its own resources. Risk The combination of the probability of an event resulting from interactions between natural or human-induced hazards and vulnerable conditions, and its negative consequences on people, livelihoods, species or ecosystems, infrastructure or economic, social or cultural assets. and Building Resilience The capacity of social, economic and environmental systems associated with a heritage place to resist, absorb, accommodate, adapt to, transform and recover from the effects of a hazard in a timely and efficient manner, including through the preservation and restoration of its essential basic structures and functions through risk management. for World Heritage All inherited assets that people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions of humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc. Properties places a special emphasis on climate change due to its long-term and all-pervasive nature of impacts affecting so many World Heritage All inherited assets that people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions of humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc. properties and its multiplier effect in increasing vulnerability to disaster risks. For example, an increase in soil moisture may impact archaeological remains and historic buildings, thereby increasing their vulnerability to natural events such as earthquakes and floods. Climate change Climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g. by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forces, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use is also causing increasing frequency and intensity of hydrometeorological hazards such as hurricanes, floods, storms and wildfires, thereby impacting heritage.

In fact, climate change is creating a staggeringly diverse array of impacts on World Heritage All inherited assets that people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions of humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc. properties. Increased temperature may thaw permafrost, causing destabilization of heritage buildings and infrastructure. Variability in precipitation and humidity may result in increased efflorescence by capillary action in walls, frescoes, wall paintings, mosaics and statues or cause wet-frost that may damage porous materials. Intensified wind or changes in its direction may increase abrasion and degradation of rock art and damage to archaeological sites and historic buildings. Climate change Climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g. by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forces, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use may also affect traditional practices due to changes in the distribution of flora and fauna. Thawing permafrost, noted above for its impacts on cultural heritage, is also profoundly impacting natural systems. Climate-driven changes in precipitation patterns, surface and ground water systems are impacting traditional grazing practices in many heritage places.

Increased temperature and extreme events due to climate change can also adversely affect visitor safety, forcing the closure of properties, which in turn impacts revenue and other business operations associated with World Heritage All inherited assets that people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions of humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc. properties. Due to high-intensity rainfall, increased instances of urban flooding have been reported in recent decades in nearly every part of the world, inundating many historic centres. Heavy rains may cause heritage to remain submerged in water, thereby causing irreplaceable loss to the foundations of historic built structures. Tropical wetlands are affected by repeated fires and, despite being a fire-adapted environment, these types of ecosystems are becoming less resilient, weakened further by external factors like land degradation and land-use change combined with long drought periods. Floods are becoming a highly recurrent phenomenon and some historic cities appear to be gradually sinking. Rising sea levels are damaging historic buildings despite increased investments in floodgate systems.

As global populations grow in number and density and are located in ever more risk-prone areas, communities are all the more vulnerable, particularly those with less resources and/or living in remote locations, many of which are in and around World Heritage All inherited assets that people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions of humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc. properties. While certain areas in the world have increasing population and density, others are being emptied and abandoned.

Climate change Climate change refers to a change in the state of the climate that can be identified (e.g. by using statistical tests) by changes in the mean and/or the variability of its properties, and that persists for an extended period, typically decades or longer. Climate change may be due to natural internal processes or external forces, or to persistent anthropogenic changes in the composition of the atmosphere or in land use exacerbates disaster risks across almost the entire spectrum and therefore DRM should factor in climate-related adaptation and mitigation actions as a cross-cutting dimension. Heritage All inherited assets that people value for reasons beyond mere utility. Heritage is a broad concept and includes shared legacies from the natural environment, the creations of humans and the creations and interactions of humans and nature. It encompasses built, terrestrial, freshwater and marine environments, landscapes and seascapes, biodiversity, geodiversity, collections, cultural practices, knowledge, living experiences, etc. is given a better chance to combat climate change if we can build the resilience or health of ecosystems and society generally.

Climate adaptation actions aim to minimize climate impacts on Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) and other heritage values. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provides a fuller definition: ‘in human systems, climate adaptation is the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects, in order to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, it is the process of adjustment to actual climate and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate and its effects.’

Climate adaptation should relate to the hazards that are directly and indirectly influenced by climate change and the exposure of various World Heritage values The qualities for which a heritage place is considered important to be protected for present and future generations. Values In the context of heritage conservation, values are the qualities for which a heritage place is considered important to be protected for present and future generations. Values are determined by a range of social and cultural factors. What is valued by one section of society may not be valued by another, or may be valued for different reasons, or one generation may value it but it may not be valued by the next generation. Heritage places normally have a range of values: aesthetic, architectural, biological, ecological, historic, geological, social, spiritual, etc. These values are embodied in and conveyed by the attributes of the heritage place. are determined by a range of social and cultural factors. What is valued by one section of society may not be valued by another, or may be valued for different reasons, or one generation may value it but it may not be valued by the next. Heritage places may have a range of values: aesthetic, architectural, biological, ecological, historic, geological, social, spiritual, etc. These values are embodied in and conveyed by the attributes of the heritage place. to these hazards and their related vulnerability (physical, social, economic, institutional, etc.) This reflects not only the importance of addressing all components of climate risks (hazards, exposure, vulnerability, response), but also makes clear that climate change adaptation cannot be seen in isolation from other risk factors such as poverty, urbanization, pollution and insecurity. World Heritage properties may also be impacted by improper adaptation responses to climate change (e.g. maladaptation).

Therefore, addressing non-climate threats and pressures on World Heritage properties warrants special emphasis because doing so effectively can help build properties’ resilience and ability to adapt to climate change. In circumstances where the impacts of climate change are intensifying and increasing in frequency, action on other pressures will become increasingly important in sustaining the resilience of World Heritage properties and protecting their OUV and other heritage values.

It is important to note that disaster mitigation is different in its scope compared to climate mitigation. Mitigation of climate change, according to the IPCC refers to ‘a human intervention to reduce emissions or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases,’ while disaster mitigation refers to reducing the impacts of the disaster in a heritage place. That said, World Heritage properties, especially natural, mixed and large-scale cultural landscapes, are among those places that might significantly contribute to climate mitigation by safeguarding natural ecosystems that are carbon sinks and, when feasible and consistent with protecting OUV, by undertaking actions to enhance carbon sequestration in natural systems.

Recent studies have shown that well-managed, large-scale forested natural World Heritage properties in the tropics act as more effective carbon sinks than those protected forests outside the World Heritage system. A further study has shown that several large natural forested World Heritage properties are failing to realize their potential as carbon sinks due to threats and poor protection and management standards. This illustrates the huge potential of such places to support mitigation efforts provided they are well managed. In historic cities for example, climate mitigation measures could be taken in relation to visitor management or transportation by improving systems that utilize renewable energies and promoting pedestrian movement, cycling paths and other means to reduce the carbon footprint within the World Heritage property A cultural, natural or mixed heritage place inscribed on the World Heritage List and therefore considered to be of OUV for humanity. The responsibility for nominating a property to the World Heritage List falls upon the State(s) Party(ies) where it is located. The World Heritage Committee decides whether a property should be inscribed on the World Heritage List, taking into account the technical recommendations of the Advisory Bodies following rigorous evaluation processes.
When used as a general term, World Heritage refers to all the natural, cultural and mixed properties inscribed on the World Heritage List. .

It is important to stress that all mitigation measures should have minimal impact on heritage values, including customary land management practices, the livelihoods of Indigenous Peoples and local communities and be consistent with obligations under the Convention to maintain the OUV above all.