聯合國教科文組織世界遺產委員會(UNESCO World Heritage Committee)於10日的會議上通過一項策略，以因應氣候變遷對世界遺產場址的威脅。對於著名的世界遺產如尼泊爾的聖母峰，澳洲的大堡礁等受氣候變遷影響的場址，委員會決定列入聯合國「瀕危世界遺產名單」(List of World Heritage in Danger)，依據案例的不同作適當的處理，並邀集學者對各種解決方案進行研究。
世界遺產委員會有21位委員，他們指出：「大多數自然生態系統和世界遺產地點，不論陸上或海上，均處於氣候變遷衝擊的危機當中。」委員會主席、同時也是立陶宛大使暨駐教科文組織常任代表的瑪秀萊特（Ina Marciulionyte）說：「此取氣候變遷對策，只是一個漫長過程的開始，重要的是它有助於引起長期關注。」
聯合國教科文組織從1972年開始建立「世界遺產名錄」，共有遍及全世界137個國家的812個地點，世界遺產場址其中628個是屬於文化遺產，160個是自然遺產，而另有24個則屬於文化、自然兼具的場址。世界遺產委員會的氣候變遷策略文件中指出：「就自然遺產而論，氣候變遷為大多數生物群落來來的是負面衝擊。」
世界遺產氣候因應策略，主要在運用個人、社區、組織與企業等各階層的力量，形成環境上經得起考驗的方案和決策，實施監測、通報與救治行動。並且也將透過全球性和區域性策略方案、加上在地管理計劃，來進行拯救世界遺產的行動。
世界遺產委員會呼籲所有世界遺產公約締約國的政府執行策略，以「保護世界遺產獨特的價值、完整性（integrity）和原真性（authenticity），使其免於受氣候變遷的不良影響。」世界遺產委員會指出，因為氣候變遷而受衝擊的世界遺產包括冰河、珊瑚礁、紅樹林、北方森林、熱帶森林、極地和高山生態系統、濕地和草原。
「地球之友協會」氣候變遷專案人員皮爾斯（Catherine Pearce）說：「氣候變遷已經對一些世界最壯觀的自然遺產造成可怕的影響。但是世界遺產委員會應能夠扮演重要角色，試圖為下一代保護這些遺產場址。它必須確實採取立即行動，想辦法減輕這些場址面臨的威脅，並且對國際社會明確表示在減排二氧化碳是迫切必要的。」
The UNESCO World Heritage Committee on Monday adopted a strategy of response to the threat that climate change poses to many World Heritage sites such as Mount Everest in Nepal and Australia's Great Barrier Reef. The committee decided that sites affected by climate change could be inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger, on a case by case basis, and invited a study on alternatives to the Danger List for these sites.
Most natural ecosystems and heritage sites, both on land and in the sea, are at risk of being affected by climate change, the committee said.
"This is the start of a long process, which is important in that it helps draw attention to a far reaching issue," explained the chairperson of the 21 member World Heritage Committee, Ina Marciulionyte, Lithuania's ambassador and permanent delegate to UNESCO.
Created in 1972, UNESCO's World Heritage List covers 812 sites around the world. Located in 137 countries, 628 of the World Heritage sites are cultural, 160 are natural and 24 are mixed.
"As far as natural heritage is concerned, the vast majority of biomes may be adversely impacted by the effects of climate change," according to the strategy adopted by the World Heritage Committee.
The strategy includes preventive actions such as monitoring, reporting and mitigation of climate change effects through environmentally sound choices and decisions at individual, community, institutional and corporate levels. It includes corrective actions such as adaptation through global and regional strategies and local management plans.
The committee is asking all governments that are Parties to the World Heritage treaty to implement the strategy "to protect the outstanding universal value, integrity and authenticity of World Heritage sites from the adverse effects of climate change."
World Heritage sites affected by climate change include glaciers, coral reefs, mangroves, boreal and tropical forests, polar and alpine ecosystems, wetlands and grasslands, the committee said.
Friends of the Earth International's climate campaigner, Catherine Pearce said, “Climate change is already having a terrible impact on some of the world’s most spectacular natural heritage sites. But the World Heritage Committee can play a crucial role in trying to protect these sites for future generations. It must pledge immediate action to try and mitigate the threat these sites face, and make it clear to the international community that cuts in carbon dioxide emissions are urgently needed.”
