Germany is responsible for preserving the outstanding universal value of currently (2026) 55 UNESCO World Heritage Sites (52 cultural sites and 3 natural sites) as well as eight Geoparks. UNESCO and its advisory bodies consider the effects of climate change to be the highest risk to the long-term preservation of cultural and natural heritage. The material damage caused by acute and gradual consequences of climate change not only increases preservation costs; many losses and damages are also not monetarily compensable and endanger the extraordinary universal value of World Heritage.
The Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) is primarily responsible for coordinating the federal climate adaptation strategy. The protection of UNESCO World Heritage Sites and UNESCO Geoparks in Germany is framed as an interdepartmental goal, whereby the federal states and the respective responsible local authorities bear the responsibility for implementation.
The federal cabinet has approved 2024 goals, sub-goals, and measures for the action area “Protection of World Heritage” in the climate adaptation strategy.
Under the German Adaptation Strategy to Climate Change (DAS 2024), there is a cluster “Cross-Cutting,” which contains shared goals of the departments for interdepartmental action areas. The BMUKN consolidates the activities of the Federal Ministry for Building, Housing and Urban Development (BMWSB), the Commissioner for Culture and Media (BKM), as well as the Federal Foreign Office (AA) and manages the achievement of the goals. Each department contributes responsible measures within its areas of responsibility that collectively ensure the achievement of the goals.
For the protection of World Heritage from the effects of climate change, the aim U-4 is anchored in the cluster “Cross-Cutting” in the federal climate adaptation strategy: “The federal government shows a national framework with indicators and measures according to international fundamental documents and action plans and in accordance with the commitments of the World Heritage Convention, so that the UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Germany can develop climate protection measures and/or climate adaptation concepts or plans (for example, as part of their management plans, plans for disaster risk management, and conceptual frameworks) by 2030.”
The goal is specified by three sub-goals and measures. The sub-goals are as follows:
(U-4-1) Sustain information and data management.
(U-4.2) Support climate adaptation measures for World Heritage Sites within available resources.
(U-4.3) Promote climate adaptation measures for World Heritage Sites within available resources.
For the goal U 4 and its sub-goals (U-4.1, U 4-2, and U-4.3), further support measures have also been formulated.
For a coordinated approach of the departments, the status and progress towards achieving the goals must be determined following the cabinet decision of 2024. According to the measures related to the sub-goals, among other things, institutional proposals, such as the establishment of a coordination office or networking, must be assessed for feasibility and connection opportunities.
In this regard, the BMUKN intends to commission a study.
LOT-0000
Z I 3-VSt. 1971/2026
Feasibility Study: Improve Framework Conditions for Protecting World Heritage from the Effects of Climate Change.
The project supports the BMUKN in its capacity as the lead coordinating authority for the German adaptation strategy to the effects of climate change (DAS).
It relates to the goals, sub-goals, and measures for the action area “Protection of World Heritage” in the climate adaptation strategy approved by the federal cabinet in 2024. To coordinate the departments, the status and progress towards achieving the goals must now be determined following the cabinet decision of 2024. There is still no interdepartmental overall picture regarding the risks to World Heritage Sites in Germany that consolidates and evaluates the need for action in climate adaptation.
In a first step, the status must be determined based on publicly available sources (Desktop research) (Work Package 1). Institutional proposals, such as the establishment of a coordination office or networking, should be evaluated for feasibility and connection opportunities (Work Package 3). Procedures and standards for risk assessment and prioritization of measures for the action area of World Heritage Sites must be developed (Work Package 4). To ensure the quality of the statements, consultations should be held with experts (Work Packages 2 and 5). Finally, the key results should be compiled into recommendations for decision-makers at the federal and state levels. In doing so, research needs should also be identified, and research questions contributing to goal achievement should be prioritized (Work Package 6).
The aim of the project is to develop a transparent and well-founded decision-making basis for the responsible authorities. The decision-making basis should support a concerted approach, structure targeted cooperation, and prepare for an efficient resource allocation. On this basis, the evaluation of goal achievement and governance needs in the climate adaptation strategy will take place in 2028.
The estimated total effort for the 6 work packages amounts to approximately 250 person-days:
- Work Package 1: 60 person-days
- Work Package 2: 30 person-days
- Work Package 3: 20 person-days
- Work Package 4: 60 person-days
- Work Package 5: 40 person-days
- Work Package 6: 40 person-days
The personnel scope is estimated as follows: Project Management: 75 person-days, Scientific Staff: 128 person-days, Assistance: 47 person-days