A study reveals that by 2100, nearly all natural world heritage sites will be increasingly vulnerable to extreme climate events, particularly under high-emission scenarios. Researchers identified 14 sites requiring urgent attention, with significant impacts expected in Africa and tropical regions. Nearly all sites have already experienced extreme heat, emphasizing the need for stronger climate action to protect these irreplaceable ecosystems.
A recent study published in Communications Earth & Environment reveals that, by the year 2100, almost all natural world heritage sites (NWHS) will be increasingly vulnerable to extreme climate events due to rising emissions. Researchers from Peking University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences assessed the climate exposure of 250 natural heritage sites using four future climate scenarios. Under the highest emission scenario, 248 sites would be subject to extreme climate events, particularly impacting forest heritage sites and those in biodiversity-poor tropical regions.
The study has identified 14 NWHSs that require urgent attention; these include six in Africa, four in Australia, two in Brazil, and one each in the United States and Réunion Island. Key sites in Africa such as Lake Turkana National Parks in Kenya and Manovo-Gounda St Floris National Park in the Central African Republic are expected to face extreme heat. Extreme heat events have already significantly affected 44.8% of NWHSs in the historical period between 2000 and 2015, with projections indicating that nearly all sites will experience extreme heat by 2100.
The intensity of climate pressures on NWHSs is associated with rising greenhouse gas emissions and unsustainable human activities. The study suggests that achieving the temperature targets of the Paris Agreement could mitigate risks by reducing exposure to extreme events. Notably, 16 NWHSs have already been designated as endangered, with climate change identified as the primary threat, compounded by human activities like mining and tourism. Authorities must bolster protective measures to sustain these invaluable sites against an increasingly precarious climate.
The report emphasized the urgency of accelerating carbon neutrality efforts to benefit both the protection of NWHSs and the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal target 11.4, which focuses on safeguarding cultural and natural heritage sites.
The vulnerability of natural world heritage sites to climate change is an urgent global issue that impacts biodiversity and ecosystem preservation. These sites are designated as having outstanding universal value and face multiple threats due to rising temperatures and extreme weather events driven by climate change. The assessment of 250 natural heritage sites under varying scenarios provides essential insights into future challenges these significant ecological areas may face, particularly under high-emission scenarios. The documentation of specific sites requiring immediate attention highlights the need for both national and international conservation efforts to protect these crucial environmental resources.
In summary, the study highlights the alarming vulnerability of natural world heritage sites to the impending extreme climate events exacerbated by human activities and greenhouse gas emissions. With the potential for nearly total exposure by 2100, urgent action is required to mitigate these impacts through the enforcement of protective measures and the realization of international climate agreements. The preservation of these natural treasures will depend on a coordinated global response to the climate crisis.
Original Source: www.downtoearth.org.in
