UNESCO World Heritage Sites at risk: Climate crisis could lead to list shrinking
Climate change analysts have identified several UNESCO World Heritage Sites most vulnerable to the climate crisis, revealing the top 50 landmarks most at risk of destruction by 2050.
Floods, coastal erosion, landslides, strong winds, extreme heat, storms, and cyclones are among the climate-related threats endangering iconic sites worldwide. Climate X, a climate risk data analysis company, has assessed the impact on 500 cultural and natural heritage sites, identifying the 50 most at risk by 2050.
What could disappear from UNESCO's World Heritage Sites list?
UNESCO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, recognises a total of 1,223 cultural and natural World Heritage sites worldwide. According to Climate X, 500 sites are directly vulnerable to climate catastrophe, with 50 at risk of being destroyed by 2050 if greenhouse gas emissions are not drastically reduced.
Among the critically endangered sites identified by Climate X are the Sydney Opera House in Australia, the Olympic and Everglades National Parks in the United States, and the Buddhist mountain monasteries of Sansa in Korea. Additionally, 17 European World Heritage Sites are included on the list, with floods and droughts posing the primary threats on the continent.
17 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Europe may soon be destroyed
Sweden's Engelsberg Ironworks is the most threatened site in Europe due to climate change, ranking fourth on a global list of 50 at-risk locations, primarily because of the dangers posed by surface and river flooding. Dating back to the 17th century, the ironworks is recognised as an outstanding example of a European industrial complex and is the best-preserved Swedish ironworks, which contributed significantly to Sweden's prosperity for two centuries.
Following closely is the Grotte Chauvet-Pont d'Arc in Ardèche, France, ranked sixth. This site is threatened by surface flooding and landslides, and its loss would mean the disappearance of the earliest known and best-preserved figurative drawings in the world, dating back 32,000 years. The Jungfrau-Aletsch region in the Swiss Alps, ranked 11th, narrowly missed the top 10. The region is home to Europe's largest glacier, which is rapidly shrinking, along with others across the continent.
Lukky Ahmed, CEO and co-founder of Climate X addressed the data presented by the company, stating: "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."
Source: euronews.com
