Protect heritage sites from global warming

It is widely agreed that climate change will pose a great threat to the future of mankind if necessary and immediate steps are not taken to check it. It is less known that it will also pose a serious threat to mankind’s past. A report prepared by Unesco, in association with other expert bodies, has listed 31 world heritage sites in 29 countries which are facing serious risk from global warming. There are over 1,000 sites across the world which Unesco has designated as heritage sites. They have “outstanding universal value,” as they embody great cultural and civilisational values and represent achievements of the human mind. Some of them are also places and natural habitats which need to be preserved because they are stations in the evolution of the earth and humankind. The Unesco report cites as threatened sites Venice, Stonehenge, the Galapagos Islands, the Statue of Liberty and the Yellowstone National Park, among others. The list includes the Sagarmatha national park in Nepal. Some coral reefs are also cited as endangered. 

The impact of climate change has already been felt in these sites as they are vulnerable to phenomena like rising sea levels, melting glaciers, increasing temperatures or other changes in natural events and processes. Venice is among the most endangered, as it is experiencing frequent flooding due to rising sea levels. The preventive measures cost billions of rupees. All the sites are major tourist attractions. Large sums will be needed for their protection and restoration in case of damage. Damage caused to these sites will hurt the economies of the regions where they are located. But the greater danger is the loss of the heritage that they represent. In fact, unchecked tourism is also posing a danger to some of them. While this can be dealt with locally, the danger posed by global warming is of a higher order and calls for greater political will and more effective strategies than have been attempted till now.

The report underlines the fact that “achieving the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global temperature rise to levels below 2 degrees Celsius is vitally important to protecting world heritage.” It recommends initiation of studies to understand, monitor and address climate change threats to these sites. Locally needed remedial measures need to be formulated and implemented wherever necessary. Addressing the wider threat posed by global warming to agriculture, industry, life styles and habitats is the most urgent task. The Unesco report is a reminder of other tasks and needs which too demand attention.