Climate Change Threatens Natural World Heritage Sites: IUCN Report

The IUCN World Heritage Outlook 4, released at the Abu Dhabi Congress 2025, warns that climate change is the biggest threat to natural World Heritage sites, affecting 43% of them. Invasive species impact 30% of sites and wildlife and plant diseases have risen from 2% in 2020 to 9% in 2025. Only half of the 271 assessed sites have effective protection, while 15% face financial shortfalls. In India, Khangchendzonga National Park remains “Good,” but Manas, Sundarbans, and Western Ghats face “Significant Concern.” IUCN urges climate adaptation, strong governance, and Indigenous knowledge for conservation.