Climate Action and World Heritage: Conflict or Confluence?

Abstract

AbstractIn 2007, the Policy Document on the Impacts of Climate Change on World Heritage Properties was adopted by the World Heritage (WH) Committee, and a revised policy document, the Draft Policy Document on Climate Action for World Heritage, was released in 2021. An English word search on terms related to potential conflicts between WH and climate change was undertaken and utilised as a starting point for an exploration of developments over the 14 intervening years. Four themes were defined and explored, namely, mission, change, loss, and responsibility. In many cases of perceived conflict, professionals and policy makers have been actively working to find solutions. In others, there is the potential for developing new and creative approaches that will ensure the relevance of heritage in an uncertain future.