World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate

The report analyzes the intersection of climate change, World Heritage sites, and tourism, arguing that climate change acts as a 'threat multiplier' that degrades the outstanding universal value (OUV) of these sites while simultaneously threatening the tourism economies that depend on them. Through 30 case studies across 29 countries, it demonstrates that impacts range from glacier melt and sea-level rise to increased wildfire regimes and ocean acidification. The document emphasizes that while sustainable tourism can support conservation, unplanned development often increases site vulnerability. It concludes with recommendations for intergovernmental organizations, governments, and site managers to integrate climate science into management plans, reduce tourism's carbon footprint, and empower local and indigenous communities in adaptation efforts.

• Climate change functions as a 'threat multiplier' for World Heritage sites, increasing their vulnerability and worsening existing pressures such as pollution, urbanization, and poorly managed tourism.
• The tourism sector is a significant contributor to climate change, accounting for approximately 5% of global CO2 emissions, with projections that these emissions could more than double within 25 years.
• Coral reefs in World Heritage sites are extremely vulnerable; even under ambitious emission reduction scenarios, 70% of global corals are projected to suffer long-term degradation by 2030.
• Cultural World Heritage sites are uniquely vulnerable because their assets are immobile and inextricably tied to their specific location, meaning loss is permanent.
• There is a significant gap in official reporting; climate change is under-represented in State of Conservation (SOC) reports compared to the actual observed impacts on the ground.
• The tourism industry itself is highly vulnerable to climate change, facing risks such as extreme weather, water shortages, and the potential for coastal resorts to become 'stranded assets'.
• In some rare instances, climate change is actually driving tourism, such as at Ilulissat Icefjord in Greenland, where visitors come to see rapidly melting glaciers.
• Financial resources for climate adaptation at World Heritage sites are severely inadequate; the World Heritage Fund's US$ 4 million for international assistance is described as a 'drop in the ocean' compared to the costs of projects like Venice's US$ 6 billion flood gates.
• Indigenous and local knowledge systems are vital for climate resilience, providing historical precedents for adaptation and fine-scale environmental observations that scientists may overlook.
• Gender equality is critical for resilience, as women make up a large part of the tourism workforce but often earn 10–15% less than men.

APA

Union of Concerned Scientists (2016). World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate. https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2016/05/world-heritage-and-tourism-in-a-changing-climate.pdf#page=36

Chicago

Union of Concerned Scientists. World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate. 2016. https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2016/05/world-heritage-and-tourism-in-a-changing-climate.pdf#page=36.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Union of Concerned Scientists |title=World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate |date=2016 |url=https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2016/05/world-heritage-and-tourism-in-a-changing-climate.pdf#page=36 |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{unionofconcernedscientists2016world, author = {{Union of Concerned Scientists}}, title = {{World Heritage and Tourism in a Changing Climate}}, institution = {Union of Concerned Scientists}, year = {2016}, url = {https://www.ucsusa.org/sites/default/files/attach/2016/05/world-heritage-and-tourism-in-a-changing-climate.pdf#page=36}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }