The study was done by the company "Climate X". The authors assessed all 1223 UNESCO assets globally, using modeling to predict how various climate hazards, such as tropical cyclones, extreme heat and flooding, will affect these sites over the next century. The site most vulnerable to climate change is Indonesia's ninth-century Subak irrigation system, threatened by drought, extreme heat and flooding
A new study has ranked the 50 UNESCO World Heritage sites most at risk from climate change and highlighted the urgent need for the cultural sector to take action.
The study was done by the company "Climate X". The authors evaluated all 1223 assets of UNESCO globally, using modeling to predict how various climate hazards, such as tropical cyclones, extreme heat and floods, will affect these countries over the next century.
The site most vulnerable to climate change is Indonesia's ninth-century Subak irrigation system, threatened by drought, extreme heat and flooding. Other notable sites on the List include France's ornate Pont d'Arc Cave, home to some of the world's best-preserved figurative paintings, which is at risk from floods and landslides, and the Sydney Opera House.
Four countries in the UK have been identified as particularly vulnerable. The fourth bridge in Scotland, the uninhabited island of St. Kilda in the Hebrides, the 18th-century mill village of New Lanark and Yorkshire's Studley Royal Park all face risks from coastal flooding, landslides and severe storms.
The report has prompted cultural leaders to call for greater involvement from the arts and heritage sectors in the fight against climate change. Alison Tickell, director of the charity Julie's Bicycle, said that culture is a crucial but often overlooked element in climate action.
"This report is a clarion call about the dangers of climate change, already causing terrible destruction in countries and communities," she said. Dr. Nadia Khalaf, a landscape archaeologist from Exeter University, echoed these concerns, noting that the loss of heritage sites can have profound economic and social impacts, particularly on tourism and community wellbeing.
In a similar effort, heritage experts from the University of Newcastle are launching a separate study to assess the effects of climate change on three other UK-based UNESCO sites: Hadrian's Wall, Biosphere Reserve of North Devon and Fforest Fawr Global Geopark in the Brecon Beacons. Funded by the UK Government's Joint Results Fund, this £1.8 million project aims to develop strategies that can be applied both in the UK and internationally to protect these vulnerable countries.
James Bridge, chief executive of the United Kingdom's National Commission for UNESCO, said there was potential for this pilot project to serve as a model for global heritage conservation efforts. "While the pilot project will test approaches tailored to three specific areas in the UK, we hope the results will be relevant, adaptable and useful for people and places more widely, both in the UK and internationally." he said.