Coastal World Heritage Sites Under Threat from Climate Change
Researchers have created the first global dataset covering 386 coastal UNESCO World Heritage sites to assess the impacts of the climate crisis and environmental risks.
Led by coastal engineer Robert Nicholls, researchers have prepared the first high-resolution digital dataset for coastal UNESCO World Heritage sites threatened by climate change and weather events.
Scope of the New Dataset
Researchers have created the first global, high-resolution digital dataset comprising 386 coastal UNESCO World Heritage sites covering a total area of over 235 million hectares. This study aims to increase the resilience of regions of great cultural and natural importance against the climate crisis.
Sites Under Threat
Published in the journal Scientific Data, the dataset includes cultural icons, biocultural areas of ecological and cultural value, unique ecosystems, and geological wonders. Key locations such as desert wetlands in West Africa, melting glaciers, and the Great Barrier Reef top the list of these risks.
Creation Process of the Dataset
Examining 1,199 UNESCO heritage listings across 173 countries, the team identified 389 cultural, natural, and mixed sites located within 20 meters above sea level and close to the coast. Without using artificial intelligence, the boundaries of the sites were manually drawn by approximately 14 digitization experts.
Forward-Looking Risk Analyses
Experts state that this dataset provides a crucial starting point for risk assessments. The research team is also using this new dataset to examine the potential flooding impacts of sea-level rise on these regions.