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UNESCO World Heritage sites are increasingly under “water-related threats,” according to a new report by the World Resources Institute (WRI). The report claims that around 73% of World Heritage sites are at “high risk” due to threats related to water.
According to WRI, more than 1,100 registered historical sites across the globe are facing threats such as drought, water stress, river flooding and coastal flooding. The proportion of World Heritage sites exposed to high or extremely high water stress is projected to rise from 40% to 44% by the year 2050.
The report also draws attention to cultural heritage sites in Türkiye. Sites such as the Historic Peninsula in Istanbul—home to Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque, and Topkapi Palace—as well as ancient cities across Anatolia like Ephesus, Pergamon, Gordion, Troy, Hattusa (Bogazkoy), Gobeklitepe, and Arslantepe are listed as being “at high risk.”
The report also includes a set of recommendations aimed at mitigating these threats.
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