They’re some of the most visited sites around the world.
But dozens of UNESCO World Heritage Sites could be wiped out by 2050 – thanks to climate change.
Researchers from Climate X used climate models to predict how flooding, coastal erosion, landslides, wind-based hazards, storms and cyclones will impact landmarks around the world.
Their analysis highlights 50 sites at risk – including four in the UK.
‘Our findings serve as a stark warning for governments, preservationists, and the global community to prioritise the safeguarding of our planet – to preserve our ancient monuments and our current assets and infrastructure- and to protect life today and into the future,’ said Lukky Ahmed, CEO and co-founder of Climate X.
They’re some of the most visited sites around the world. But dozens of UNESCO World Heritage Sites could be wiped out by 2050 – thanks to climate change
Researchers from Climate X used climate models to predict how flooding, coastal erosion, landslides, wind-based hazards, storms and cyclones will impact landmarks around the world. Pictured: The Forth Bridge in Scotland
Their analysis highlights 50 sites at risk – including four in the UK. Pictured: the archipelago of St Kilda, Outer Hebrides
UNESCO’s World Heritage list currently includes 1,223 sites, which are considered so important for our planet’s future that they should be protected forever.
In their new study, researchers from Climate X set out to understand which of these sites could perish because of climate change.
The team used Climate X’s Spectra platform, which models how climate change will affect properties, assets and infrastructure under various scenarios.
Algorithms within the platform quantify the risk from extreme weather to model the future likelihood of 16 different climate hazards — from extreme heat to tropical cyclones and flooding — across eight warming scenarios over a 100-year time horizon.
Topping the list is Indonesia’s Subak System, which is vulnerable to surface flooding, extreme heat days, and drought risk
UNESCO’s World Heritage list currently includes 1,223 sites, which are considered so important for our planet’s future that they should be protected forever. Australia’s Kakadu National Park, is at risk of surface flooding and wildfires
In their new study, researchers from Climate X set out to understand which sites could perish because of climate change. Pictured: New Lanark, Scotland
The analysis revealed 50 key sites at risk if global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise at the current rate.
Topping the list is Indonesia’s Subak System, which is vulnerable to surface flooding, extreme heat days, and drought risk.
This is followed by Australia’s Kakadu National Park, which is at risk of surface flooding and wildfires, and China’s Quanzhou: Emporium of the World, which is at risk of drought.
Other key sites included on the list are Australia’s Sydney Opera House, the US’s Olympic National Park, Switzerland’s Swiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch, and Korea’s Sansa Buddhist Mountain Monasteries.
Here in the UK, four sites are included in the risk list.
Algorithms within the platform quantify the risk from extreme weather to model the future likelihood of 16 different climate hazards — from extreme heat to tropical cyclones and flooding — across eight warming scenarios over a 100-year time horizon. Pictured: Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay, France
The analysis revealed 50 key sites at risk if global greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise at the current rate. Pictured: Konark Sun Temple, India
Yorkshire’s Studley Royal Park, is most vulnerable to severe storms, according to the researchers
The Forth Bridge – a railway bridge across the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland – and remote archipelago, St Kilda, are both vulnerable to coastal flooding, according to Climate X.
New Lanark – an 18th century mill village in Scotland – is at risk of damage from landslides, while Yorkshire’s Studley Royal Park, is most vulnerable to severe storms.
‘The potential impact of climate change on these sites is profound,’ Mr Ahmed said.
‘But it’s not just our past heritage that’s at risk – it’s our present, too.
‘While the loss of these cultural treasures – many of which have endured for millennia – would of course be devastating, it’s also vital to remember the real societal and economic impact of climate change is happening in the here and now.’
The 50 most at-risk UNESCO World Heritage Sites globally The Cultural Landscape of the Bali Province: The Subak System, Indonesia – surface flood, extreme heat days & drought risksKakadu National Park, Australia – surface flood & wildfire risksQuanzhou: Emporium of the World in Song-Yuan, China – drought riskEngelsberg Ironworks, Sweden – surface flood & river flood risksSinharaja Forest Reserve, Sri Lanka – surface flood & extreme heat risksDecorated Cave of Pont d’Arc, known as Grotte Chauvet-Pont d’Arc, Ardèche, France – surface flood & landslide risksWest Lake Cultural Landscape of Hangzhou, China – surface flood & drought risksFujian Tulou, China – surface flood & extreme heat days risksOmbilin Coal Mining Heritage of Sawahlunto, Indonesia – surface flood, extreme heat days & drought risksHimeji-jo, Japan – surface flood riskSwiss Alps Jungfrau-Aletsch, Switzerland – river flood riskZollverein Coal Mine Industrial Complex in Essen, Germany – river flood riskRjukan-Notodden Industrial Heritage Site, Norway – surface flood riskKhangchendzonga National Park, India – surface flood riskSun Temple, Konârak, India – surface flood & drought risksArchaeological Ruins at Moenjodaro, Pakistan – river flood & drought risksCistercian Abbey of Fontenay, France – surface flood riskSites of Japan’s Meiji Industrial Revolution: Iron and Steel, Shipbuilding and Coal Mining, Japan – tropical cyclone & storm surge risksKeoladeo National Park, India – surface flood & drought risksSrebarna Nature Reserve, Bulgaria – river flood risksHuanglong Scenic and Historic Interest Area, China – surface flood & drought risksHistoric Centres of Stralsund and Wismar, Germany – river flood, surface flood & storm risksSydney Opera House, Australia – coastal flood & storm surge risksStudley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey, England – storm risksOlympic National Park, USA – river flood, surface flood & landslide risksMount Qingcheng and the Dujiangyan Irrigation System, China – river flood & drought risksDanube Delta, Romania – river flood riskKomodo National Park, Indonesia – surface flood, extreme heat days & drought risksSouth China Karst, China – river flood, surface flood & drought risksTr’ondëk-Klondike, Canada – river flood & surface flood risksBryggen, Norway – coastal flood & drought risksProvins, Town of Medieval Fairs, France – river flood riskDoñana National Park, Spain – river flood, surface flood, coastal flood & drought risksRed Bay Basque Whaling Station, Canada – coastal flood riskAncient Villages in Southern Anhui, China – Xidi and Hongcun – surface flood riskRoyal Tombs of the Joseon Dynasty, South Korea – surface flood riskSundarbans National Park, India – surface flood & drought risksHa Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago, Vietnam – coastal flood, tropical cyclone, extreme heat days, drought, storm surge & landslide risksEverglades National Park, USA – coastal flood, tropical cyclone, extreme heat days, drought & storm surge risksWest Norwegian Fjords, Norway – Geirangerfjord and Nærøyfjord – coastal flood riskArchaeological Ruins of Liangzhu City, China – river flood & drought risksYin Xu, China – river flood, surface flood & drought risksVizcaya Bridge, Spain – coastal flood riskNew Lanark, Scotland – landslide riskSt Kilda, Scotland – coastal flood riskJongmyo Shrine, South Korea – surface flood & drought risksChurches and Convents of Goa, India – surface flood & drought risksThe Forth Bridge, Scotland – coastal flood riskZuojiang Huashan Rock Art Cultural Landscape, China – river flood, surface flood & drought risksSansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries, South Korea – river flood & surface flood risks
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