Abstract

International Heritage Instruments and Climate Change considers the current and potential effectiveness of two UNESCO instruments, the 1872 World Heritage Convention and the 2003 Intangible Cultural Heritage Convention, in protecting and safeguarding the world’s cultural heritage against the escalating threat from climate change. This work considers the threat that climate change poses to cultural heritage, both directly and indirectly (through climate change’s effects on humanity) and recommendations are made as to how the Conventions might be fortified to better protect and safeguard cultural heritage. Finally, International Heritage Instruments presents a case study built around the culturally rich region of Leh, Ladakh, which was recently devastated by climate change linked flooding and landslides.