Climate Change Threatens Nearly Half of World's World Heritage Sites

Strategic Insights -

Climate change poses an unprecedented threat to nearly half of the world's World Heritage sites, with 117 of 271 sites evaluated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) facing high or very high levels of threat. This represents a sharp increase from 33% in 2020 and 27% in 2017. Climate change is the fastest-rising threat to these sites, and its impact is becoming increasingly widespread and severe. The report's authors warn that urgent and coordinated measures are needed to protect these irreplaceable ecosystems, which play a vital role in carbon storage, water regulation, and disaster prevention.

Key Takeaways:

  • Climate change is the fastest-rising threat to World Heritage sites, with 117 of 271 sites facing high or very high levels of threat, representing a 43% increase from 2020 and 16% increase from 2017.
  • The number of sites under severe threat from climate impacts grew by 31% between 2020 and 2025, highlighting the urgent need for greater climate action.
  • Sites hosting significant biodiversity are suffering the greatest losses, with a 20% decline in good or low-risk condition from 2014 to 2025.
  • Invasive species and diseases are emerging as the second most serious global threats, with the number of sites reporting high or very high threats from pathogens increasing from two in 2020 to 19 in 2025.
  • Tourism, urban development, and industrial expansion remain key pressures on World Heritage sites, with a 4%, 5%, and 3% increase in high threats from tourism, residential, and commercial or industrial areas, respectively, since 2020.
  • 42% of sites are already implementing effective or highly effective adaptation measures, but more effort is needed to strengthen resilience and mitigation.

Statistics:

  • Of the 271 World Heritage sites evaluated, 43% face high or very high levels of threat from climate change.
  • 117 World Heritage sites face high or very high levels of threat from climate change, up from 33% in 2020 and 27% in 2017.
  • The number of sites under severe threat from climate impacts grew by 31% between 2020 and 2025.
  • 71% of biodiversity-rich areas were categorized as being in good or low-risk condition in 2014, compared to 52% in 2025.
  • The conservation outlook for World Heritage sites has declined from 63% positive in 2014 to 57% in 2025.

Sources:

  • International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)’s World Heritage Outlook 4 report.
  • Anadolu Ajansi.
  • UNESCO’s Climate Action Policy for World Heritage.