A Proposal to Operationalise the Concept of Compatibility in World Heritage Climate Change Policy

Abstract

Since Decision 29 COM 7B.a of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee in 2005, the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies have been tackling the threats posed by climate change to cultural and natural World Heritage properties. Great attention is paid to impacts and projected risks, and hence vulnerability assessment, risk preparedness, awareness raising, monitoring, adaptation and mitigation, but very little attention is paid to development in World Heritage properties and their buffer zones. While it is important to prevent loss and damage and to protect attributes of Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) identified in the past, this article argues that integrating climate action into the planning of future development is also important to implement global agendas. It proposes operationalising the concept of compatibility in World Heritage Climate Change Policy to proactively promote climate-resilient, energy-efficient and low-emissions new development projects that are compatible with their local contexts not only to engage States Parties in climate action, but also to prevent adverse effects on ‘integrity’ including attributes of OUV. This article, therefore, puts forward new thinking and proposes new directions for policy and practice.

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