IUCN: Number of natural World Heritage sites affected by climate change on rise

In just three years, the number of natural World Heritage sites threatened by climate change has doubled, growing from 35 to 62. According to a report released by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) on 14 November 2017 at the UN climate change conference, climate change is the fastest growing threat these sites face.

The IUCN World Heritage Outlook 2 – an update of the 2014 IUCN World Heritage Outlook report – assesses, for the first time, changes in the conservation prospects of all 241 natural World Heritage sites – among them the Wadden Sea World Heritage site. It examines the threats, protection and management of the sites, and the state of their World Heritage values – the unique features which have earned them their prestigious World Heritage status.