WHUK Climate Emergency Position Statement
World Heritage UK (WHUK) is an independent organisation representing the 33 UK World Heritage Sites. It does not directly manage…
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photo credit Rob McDougall
Climate Action
World Heritage UK's Climate Change working group is coordinating information and experiences on how individual sites are experiencing climate change and the work they are doing to adapt or mitigate the impact. This page and the Resources Page provide an area for sites to share best practice, case studies and information as we tackle this global phenomenon together
Climate Action
Our World Heritage Sites are at risk from Climate Change.
Climate change is threatening people, nature and heritage world-wide. In the UK both our natural and cultural World Heritage Sites (WHS) are facing growing risks from the impacts of climate change. Our World Heritage Sites need to adapt to changing weather patterns and global temperature rises.
UNESCO has identified climate change as a major threat to World Heritage. World Heritage UK (WHUK) is working with representatives of World Heritage Sites across the UK to work together to share experiences and learn from one another.
Examples of the impact at WHSs of climate change and case studies of what is being done to overcome these challenges are presented below.
To find out more about the work World Heritage UK is doing in this area contact WHUK Trustee Don Gobbett, don.gobbett@worldheritageuk.org
To read WHUK’s COP 26 statement, please click here.
Climate Action Posts
The Heart of Neolithic Orkney WHS
‘Skara Brae was revealed by great storm in 1850, and had been protected by a sea wall since the early…
Read moreStudley Royal and Fountains Abbey WHS
‘There is a deep relationship between the heritage and river; the world-class water gardens would not exist without the Skell…
Read moreDerwent Valley Mills WHS
‘Flooding along the River Derwent has always been problematic for the mill-owners in Derbyshire, but the severity and frequency has…
Read moreDurham Castle & Cathedral WHS
‘The roof structure of our 12th century Cloister has been propped since 2016 due to critical structural concerns. The underlying…
Read moreCarbon capture in The Flow Country tentative WHS
The Flow Country peatlands are being nominated for World Heritage status on the basis of the outstanding examples of ongoing…
Read moreCleveland Pools Restoration Project in City of Bath WHS – a case study
The team at the Cleveland Pools restoration project in Bath World Heritage Site are not only increasingly aware of the…
Read moreOld and New Towns of Edinburgh WHS
In late May 2021, heritage and climate experts from around the world met to discuss the threat climate change represents…
Read moreTravel planning in Saltaire WHS – a case study
The Saltaire World Heritage Management Plan incorporates a Delivery Plan which includes an objective (4) to “Develop, promote and support…
Read moreImproving flood defences at Ironbridge WHS – a case study
The area around central Ironbridge has seen the highest river levels since 2000 and these levels have happened two years…
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