From teetering sandstone pillars topped with ancient monasteries to forested playgrounds for swinging blue monkeys, UNESCO World Heritage Sites are recognised for their outstanding universal value and are designated to be preserved for future generations as part of the world’s shared heritage. However, they face increased risks due to climate change. Whether through ocean acidification that bleaches the Great Barrier Reef or rising sea levels swallowing Venice’s foundations, some of the world's most spectacular sites are under threat.

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Commonly referred to as the 'Galápagos of the Orient', the Ogasawara Islands’ isolated location has led to the development of distinct flora and fauna, illuminating the evolutionary biology of the area.

Home to many species – from the critically endangered Bonin flying fox to humpback whales and green sea turtles – the island’s biodiversity is affected by increasingly extreme typhoons and rising sea levels, which threaten to snuff out this haven for rare species and evolutionary research.

The world’s largest coral reef system, the Great Barrier Reef is the heart of the ocean. Housing over 400 types of coral and 1,500 species of fish, the site is also essential for aboriginal peoples to educate younger generations about traditional marine culture and traditions.

However, rising sea temperatures have led to mass coral bleaching events – the most recent in 2024 – while severe storms further devastate the reef already weakened by ocean acidification. Scientists fear that without significant action, the reef could face irreversible damage.

Tikal National Park is a window into the past, where towering temples, majestic palaces and expansive public squares once thrived in the heart of the ancient Maya city. This UNESCO World Heritage Site offers an extraordinary glimpse of Mayan civilisation, beautifully preserved amidst the vibrant forests that blanket the region.

These lush forests are also a vital refuge for endangered species but face mounting challenges: severe droughts and intense storms are eroding the soil and weakening the forest, leaving the park vulnerable to devastating wildfires.

One of the most biologically diverse areas on the continent of Africa, the Bwindi Impenetrable Forest is best known as the sanctuary for around half of the world's population of critically endangered mountain gorillas.

Limited to the high-altitude, forested areas of central Africa, any environmental disruption could devastate one of the mountain gorilla’s last remaining habitats. Unfortunately, forest degradation linked to chaotic rainfall patterns and hotter weather present a very real threat to the vegetation that sustains life here.

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The Galápagos Islands are a volcanic archipelago renowned for a biodiversity so unique, it provided the bedrock of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. The islands are home to the weird and wonderful, from giant tortoises to marine iguanas and blue-footed boobies.

But the increased frequency and intensity of El Niño events have led to warmer ocean temperatures and altered rainfall patterns, adversely affecting both marine and terrestrial species already weakened by coral bleaching and ocean acidification. Scientists warn that these climate stressors could permanently disrupt the delicate ecosystems of the islands, threatening the survival of some of their most iconic species.

This small island in the Indian Ocean was once the bustling capital of Mozambique and a prized trading centre of the Portuguese colonial project. The swirling mixture of Swahili and Arab architectural styles make the Portuguese fortresses all the more striking.

Unfortunately, these fortresses cannot defend the low-lying island against rising sea levels, which threaten to submerge both historical and contemporary structures, nor can they repel the increased prevalence of cyclones.

Salar de Uyuni is no stranger to an evolving climate: formed from the remnants of ancient lakes, its vast, flat surreal landscape of salt crust attracts visitors worldwide. With a unique biodiversity including endemic species such as the Andean flamingo, the salt flats also house about 70% of the world's known lithium reserves.

A critical component in renewable energy storage, Salar de Uyuni is at risk from increased interest in lithium extraction, while its delicate ecosystem already is struggling with unpredictable rain patterns and rising temperatures.

Venice is renowned for its artistic heritage, with structures by the likes of Titian and Tintoretto, while its iconic lagoon has been a cradle of human settlement and cultural development for over a millennium.

However, increased frequency of 'acqua alta' high tides cause severe flooding that endanger the city's architecture. Rising sea levels – bad at the best of times – are especially dangerous in a city sinking at a rate of one to two millimetres per year. If the tides continue to rise, Venice’s future hangs in the balance – could this floating masterpiece one day disappear beneath the waves?

Mount Etna is Europe's highest active volcano and has a history of eruptions dating back 2,700 years. This continuous volcanic activity has provided fertile soils for agriculture and a special biodiversity of flora and fauna.

This is threatened by disrupted precipitation patterns, causing soil erosion and landslides that wipe out natural habitats. Sulphur dioxide from eruptions can combine with atmospheric moisture, forming acid rain that contributes to erosion.

The Simien Mountains National Park is a masterpiece of nature, carved over millions of years into a breathtaking landscape of deep valleys and towering cliffs.

This dramatic terrain is home to some of Ethiopia’s most iconic wildlife, including the Gelada baboon (pictured) and the elusive Ethiopian wolf. But rising temperatures are reshaping the region, forcing vegetation zones higher up the mountains. As habitats shrink, these endangered species are being pushed closer to the edge – both literally and figuratively – fighting to survive in an ever-narrowing world.

Covering 1.5 million acres of wetlands, mangroves and sawgrass marshes, the Everglades National Park is a busy subtropical wilderness. It filters water, mitigates against floods and houses wildlife such as the endangered Florida panther and West Indian manatee.

However, saltwater intrusion from rising sea levels threatens freshwater habitats while stronger, more frequent hurricanes risk the sustenance of native species.

A UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List site, not yet fully inscribed as a World Heritage Site, the 16th century Coral Stone Mosques in the Maldives are remarkable historical landmarks crafted from coral and adorned with intricate carvings of traditional Islamic artistry.

The surrounding coral reefs used to act as natural barriers to storm surges, but stand no chance against intensifying nature. As the world's lowest-lying nation, rising sea levels threaten to make up to 80% of the Maldives uninhabitable by 2050. Coastal erosion threatens the Mosque’s foundations, while saltwater intrusion accelerates the degradation of the coral stone.

Perched high in Peru's Andes Mountains, Machu Picchu is an Incan citadel famed for its sophisticated dry-stone construction, particularly impressive considering it was built in the 15th century.

Climate change poses significant threats to this profound example of Incan civilization and architectural ingenuity. Increased rainfall has led to erosion and landslides, jeopardising the site's structural integrity. Additionally, rising temperatures have extended the fire season, increasing the frequency of wildfires that endanger the surrounding ecosystem and the site itself.

Climate change is reshaping Yellowstone’s delicate ecosystems. Warmer temperatures are causing earlier snowmelt, extending dry seasons and fuelling more frequent and intense wildfires. These fires not only devastate natural habitats but also disrupt the distribution of species across the park's vast landscapes.

Meanwhile, shifts in precipitation patterns combined with rising temperatures are affecting Yellowstone’s famous geothermal features, including the iconic Old Faithful, making their activity increasingly unpredictable. Experts warn that these challenges are likely to intensify, with more severe wildfires and further ecological disruptions on the horizon.

Established around the 9th century, Chichen Itza was a major political and economic hub of Mayan civilisation, with the El Castillo pyramid in particular encapsulating Mayan ancient architecture and cultural practices.

While familiar with environmental changes – a 100 year drought in AD 850 is thought to be the reason for the region’s demise – contemporary climate challenges borne out of deforestation and soil erosion threaten to destroy what is left of this incredible civilisation.

Constructed over the course of several dynasties, the 13,000-mile-long (21,000km) Great Wall of China serves as an example of China’s historical resilience. While the ancient Chinese military architecture was built to defend against invasions, today the wall’s biggest threat is that of climate change.

Increased rainfall and flooding are causing erosion and structural damage, while higher temperatures and reduced vegetation have led to desertification in parts of Northern China, further weakening the wall's foundations.

Located just south of the Arctic Circle in Norway, the Vega Archipelago has been inhabited for over 1,500 years. The islanders are known for traditional eiderdown harvesting, a practice of sustainably collecting down feathers from eider ducks.

The Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996, is one of Germany's most iconic landmarks, celebrated for its stunning Gothic architecture and historical significance. The cathedral, which took over 600 years to complete, houses priceless artworks and serves as a symbol of cultural and spiritual heritage.

However, the cathedral is increasingly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. Rising temperatures and increased air pollution have accelerated the erosion of its stone façade, while more frequent and intense storms pose a growing threat to the structure's stability. In particular, heavy rainfall and flooding along the nearby Rhine River risk damaging both the cathedral and the urban infrastructure that supports its preservation.

The Sundarbans is the world's largest mangrove forest, spanning the deltas of the Ganges, Brahmaputra and Meghna rivers between India and Bangladesh. Not only is this dense thicket of trees renowned for its rich biodiversity – including homing the beautiful Bengal tiger – it too serves as a vital buffer against coastal erosion and storm surges.

However, this delicate ecosystem is increasingly under threat from rising sea levels driven by climate change, which submerge parts of the mangrove forest. Additionally, habitat loss and human activities, such as deforestation and unsustainable resource use, further jeopardise its ability to support the diverse species and communities that depend on it.

Even Easter Island’s 1,000 monumental Moai statues are at risk from climate change. Crafted between the 10th and 16th centuries, the Moai are just one part of the many Polynesian wonders present on Easter island.

Increased storm intensity and rising sea levels are accelerating coastal erosion, threatening these archaeological treasures. Additionally, prolonged droughts are challenging the island's current inhabitants' access to fresh water, as the island lacks rivers or streams and relies heavily on rainfall and limited crater lakes for freshwater resources.

Attracting millions of visitors every year, the Taj Mahal is the 17th-century mausoleum of emperor Shah Jahan’s wife. Famed for its exquisite white marble, intricate adornments and as a symbol of love, the Taj Mahal is now at risk from climate change.

Aesthetically the marble is being yellowed by industrial emissions, while structurally the Yamuna River's pollution and fluctuating water levels threaten the monument's stability. 

Stretching along Fiji's southern Viti Levu shoreline, the Sigatoka Sand Dunes National Park is not only a startling combination of verdant trees and azure beaches, it's also an archaeological treasure trove, with evidence of human habitation dating back over 2,600 years.

This pristine example of Fiji's early settlers and their way of life is being eroded by an increased rate of cyclones, while vegetation crucial for stabilising the dunes are struggling against altered rainfall patterns.

Serving as the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th century, Angkor encompasses numerous temples (including the iconic Angkor Wat) and exhibits the height of Khmer architecture, with its detailed bas-reliefs, monumental temples and sophisticated water management systems.

Today, prolonged droughts and intense monsoons disrupt the ancient water systems that once sustained the city, and erode the stability of temples and structures.

The Pyramids of Giza are the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still standing, a testament to the engineering and artistic achievements of the ancient Egyptians.

Having stood for so long, the Pyramids face new intense climate-related challenges: rising temperatures and increased humidity are accelerating the erosion of the limestone structures, while groundwater seepage from irrigation canals have led to a rising water table, further compromising the structural integrity of these majestic structures. 

Komodo National Park is celebrated as one of the world’s 25 most ecologically rich areas. Home to thriving marine ecosystems – featuring colourful coral reefs and a variety of fish species – it’s perhaps best known as the habitat of the world’s largest lizard, the Komodo dragon.

However, challenges such as rising sea levels and changing fire patterns threaten the savannah and forest environments critical to the dragons, potentially shrinking their habitat by over 30% within the next 45 years. Additionally, warmer waters could lead to coral bleaching, posing a significant risk to marine ecosystems.

Built in the 18th century by the King of Prussia, Sanssouci Palace is a symbol of Enlightenment ideals. The palace's intricate exterior features, including the ornate frescoes and delicate sculptures, are under pressure from more intense and erratic weather patterns.

The palace is also renowned for its Rococo gardens, which include impressive terraced stairs and ornate fountains. Hotter and drier summers are leading to increased tree mortality, causing visible damage to the park’s once-thriving greenery.

Old Havana, with its well-preserved colonial architecture, cobblestone streets and vibrant public squares, showcases a blend of Baroque and Neoclassical styles. The fortification system, including landmarks like Castillo de la Real Fuerza, Castillo de San Salvador de la Punta and Castillo de los Tres Reyes del Morro (pictured), is at significant risk from climate change, particularly due to rising sea levels and increased storm intensity.

The city’s location along the coast makes it vulnerable to flooding and storm surges, while changing weather patterns, such as higher temperatures and humidity, contribute to the accelerated deterioration of historic buildings, many of which are already in need of preservation. 

Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest peak and a symbol of national identity, was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2013 under the title 'Fujisan, sacred place and source of artistic inspiration'. Revered in both Shinto and Buddhist traditions, it has inspired countless works of art, poetry and pilgrimage for centuries.

However, the mountain's iconic snow-capped silhouette, immortalised in ancient poems like those of Akahito, is increasingly at risk. Rising temperatures have caused Mount Fuji to experience its longest snow-free period in 130 years. This loss of snow cover leaves the volcano vulnerable to erosion, landslides and reduced water runoff, threatening both its natural beauty and the cultural heritage it represents.

Founded in 1496, Santo Domingo is the oldest continuously inhabited European settlement in the Americas – a living testament to the dawn of Spain’s colonial era. Its cobblestone streets and preserved 15th-century architecture, including the Catedral Primada de América, the first cathedral of the 'New World', offer a glimpse into the origins of European urban planning in the Americas. 

But Santo Domingo’s colonial legacy is under threat. Rising sea levels and increasingly powerful storms, driven by climate change, are taking a toll on its historic buildings. Saltwater intrusion accelerates the erosion of limestone structures, while frequent flooding weakens their foundations.

Teetering on pillars of sandstone rock perch the beautiful 11th-century monasteries of Meteora. These monasteries simultaneously showcase the skill of Byzantine construction and the area’s nail-biting geology – Meteora, after all, translates as ‘suspended in the air’.

Yet with endemic vegetation dying out due to drought and flash floods becoming more frequent, landslides may soon bring these monasteries back down to earth, wiping out a place of significant importance.

One of the world's largest fully protected conservation areas, Papahānaumokuākea, located in the northwestern Hawaiian Islands, safeguards a host of marine and terrestrial ecosystems, including the endangered Hawaiian monk seal and green sea turtle. Significant in Hawaiian cosmology, it has the highest density of sacred sites in the Hawaiian Archipelago.

Yet ocean acidification threatens to bleach life-giving coral reefs, while increased extreme weather events could rapidly erode ritual sites that have been visited for possibly 1,000 years.

Each carved from a single piece of stone in the Ethiopian Highlands, the Lalibela Rock-Hewn Churches were built during the 13th century reign of King Lalibela. 

One of Ethiopia’s most important religious sites, to this day it attracts Orthodox Christians pilgrims. In the face of climate change, however, increasing flash floods weaken the structural integrity of the churches, while water that seeps into cracks can freeze and thaw to cause further degradation.

Wulingyuan Scenic Area’s array of ravines, gorges and caves provide a habitat for many species, including the vulnerable giant panda and Pere David's deer – once thought to be extinct in the wild.

Towering hundreds of feet above this scenery are 3,000+ sandstone pillars and peaks, sculpted over millions of years. Yet increased heavy rainfall and extreme storms threaten to rapidly erode this iconic natural wonder, while higher temperatures could erase vegetation crucial for species’ survival.

A French territory in the Pacific Ocean, The Lagoons of New Caledonia comprise islands, mangroves and seagrass beds, all surrounded by one of the largest barrier reefs in the world.

From sea turtles and whales to dugongs and totemic fauna – hundreds of rare and wonderful species call this place home. Yet along with rising sea levels submerging the islands, increased temperatures are causing the corals to expel their life-giving algae and thus weaken the reef and these animals’ habitat.

Wine connoisseurs will gasp at the idea that rising temperatures and more frequent droughts will disrupt Bordeaux’s famed agricultural output, but there is more at risk than fine wine.

Known as the ‘Port of the Moon’ due to the curve of the Garonne River, Bordeaux features outstanding Neoclassical and classical buildings, including the Place de la Bourse. These buildings are vulnerable to flooding if rising sea levels cause the Garonne’s banks to burst.

The Cape Floral Region Protected Areas is a paradise for plant lovers, renowned as the heart of the fynbos biome. This unique ecosystem boasts over 9,000 plant species, nearly 70% of which are found nowhere else on Earth, including South Africa’s national flower, the iconic Protea.

However, these flowers are at risk. Able to survive only in specific conditions, rising temperatures could cause plant species to unsuccessfully climb to higher altitudes. On top of that, the region is already experiencing increased intensity of wildfires that endemic plants are struggling to survive.

Temples dedicated to the gods of Concordia and Heracles are some of best-preserved examples of ancient Greek architecture in the world, having stood for over 2,500 years.

Set against Sicilian olive groves and almond trees, this remarkable time capsule of ancient history may have to contend with increased rainfall and flash floods, leading to soil erosion that can damage the foundations of the temples and threaten the archaeological site’s stability.

Not only is Wrangel Island home to the polar bear, pacific walrus and endangered Arctic Fox, it's also an essential pit stop for migratory birds crossing the Arctic. Go back 4,000 years and you’d find woolly mammoths grazing the land, making the island an important paleontological site.

Today, melting sea ice affects both polar bears’ hunting ground and birds’ migratory patterns, while disappearing permafrost will cause a dangerous tipping point toward further climate breakdown.

This site unifies land, water and spirituality together through its ‘subak system’, a 1,000-year-old water management technique that irrigates the local rice fields. Surrounding the fields are temples dedicated to water deities, exemplifying the practices of Balinese Hinduism.

However, longer periods of drought and more intense monsoon seasons both disrupt the consistent conditions needed for the ‘subak system’ to work and also threaten to erode the soil supporting the ancient temples. 

Meaning ‘cloud piercer’ in their Indigenous language, it is easy to see why Māori people consider the Aoraki mountain sacred. Alpine crests, snowfields and meadows host animals adapted to the harsh conditions such as the kiwi and alpine parrot – both important to New Zealand's natural heritage.

However, the mountain's glaciers are rapidly retreating due to rising temperatures, disrupting freshwater supplies vital for both wildlife and human communities. This glacial loss also accelerates erosion, leaving Aoraki's rugged slopes increasingly vulnerable to degradation, threatening the very landscapes that hold such cultural and ecological significance.

With 40,000 interlocking columns of basalt rising out of crashing waves, Giant’s Causeway is a rare gem. While science dictates it was formed from the cooling and contraction of lava 60 million years ago, Celtic myth insists Finn McCool built the causeway to cross from Ireland to Scotland.

One thing is for certain, however – climate change makes for stronger winds and heavier rainfall that erode these unique basalt formations, with rising sea levels threatening to swallow any that remain.

The free-standing Mount Kilimanjaro watches over Africa at a height of 19,341 feet (5,895m) above sea level. At its bottom, blue monkeys swing through tropical rainforests, while at its peak, alpine swifts glide above barren icefields.

The Chagga people – who consider the mountain sacred – have lived on its slopes for centuries. However, since 1910 Kilimanjaro’s glaciers have lost over 80% of their mass, shrinking the peak’s icefields and cutting off glacial meltwater that sustains the tropical rainforests below. As the glaciers continue to disappear, the mountain’s delicate ecosystems, cultural heritage and iconic status as the 'Roof of Africa' face an uncertain future.

Part of the Rocky Mountains, Jasper National Park’s monumental peaks and rocky valleys are the result of glacial movement during the last ice age. Grizzly bears and high elk are sustained by Jasper’s crystal lakes and vast forests.

However, the park faces mounting challenges. Hotter, drier summers are fuelling more frequent and intense wildfires, such as the devastating blaze of 2024 that left scars across the landscape. Meanwhile, rising temperatures threaten the survival of cold-water fish and delicate alpine plants, putting Jasper's unique ecosystems at risk of irreversible change.

The Royal Botanic Gardens is one of the largest and most important botanical gardens in the world. With a collection of over 50,000 plant species – many of which are rare or endangered – its impressive Victorian glasshouses also contain millions of preserved plant specimens.

However, the future of Kew's collections is under threat as climate change disrupts the delicate ecosystems within the gardens. Projections indicate that by 2090, rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns and soil degradation could lead to the loss of thousands of trees, reshaping the landscape of this invaluable sanctuary for plant diversity.

The Wadden Sea is one of the largest unbroken systems of intertidal mudflats and tidal channels in the world, essential for nutrient cycling and coastal protection. Migratory birds travelling along the East Atlantic Flyway also use Wadden as a vital breeding ground.

However, tidal mudflats are particularly vulnerable to rising sea levels. Providing food and shelter for many species, this would have devastating effects on endemic wildlife, while disruption to migrating birds could have global consequences for bird populations.

St Kilda has been inhabited for over 2,000 years, with a self-sustained community thriving by hunting seabirds and gathering plants. Evacuated in the 1930s, stone food storage structures called cleits still pepper a landscape of cliffs, rocky shorelines and moorland.

But changes in temperature and ocean conditions could impact the survival rates of seabird populations by altering breeding seasons or food availability. To add, the already exposed St Kilda is vulnerable to harsher storms, posing a risk to its fragile historic buildings and archaeological sites.

The rainforests of Madagascar, including the UNESCO-listed Atsinanana Rainforests, are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. However, climate change is disrupting habitats with rising temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns, pushing many already endangered endemic species closer to extinction.

Adding to the challenge, deforestation and slash-and-burn agriculture fragment the forests, while prolonged droughts and more frequent cyclones further degrade the ecosystem. Without urgent conservation, Madagascar’s rainforests risk losing their ability to sustain the unique life forms that make them one of the world’s irreplaceable natural treasures.

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