The General Assembly of States Parties to the World Heritage Convention initially adopted a climate change policy and strategy in 2007, yet many proposed actions have not been implemented. This underscores the limitations of the current system under significant stress. Now, the General Assembly is developing a second climate change policy to provide high-level guidance on response measures.
The draft of the second policy focuses on the responsibilities of individual States Parties in addressing climate impacts on their World Heritage sites. However, it inadequately addresses the roles of the World Heritage Committee, World Heritage Centre, and Advisory Bodies in achieving climate action goals. Furthermore, it lacks a thorough discussion on Outstanding Universal Value, which is central to any climate change response.
To address these gaps, the document proposes a conceptual framework for substantial reform and outlines actions to enable the World Heritage system to respond effectively to climate change. This includes a strategic and operational approach with a staged response, featuring measurable outcomes and outputs. Such an approach aims to resolve long-standing systemic issues and ensure that the World Heritage system can meet the challenges posed by climate change.
This text is crucial for policymakers, heritage managers, and stakeholders involved in preserving World Heritage sites. It advocates for a comprehensive and collaborative approach to climate action, ensuring that both strategic vision and practical measures are in place to protect and sustain these invaluable sites for future generations. The emphasis is on creating a resilient system capable of adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change on cultural heritage.
