Some of the world’s most notable travel destinations are at risk because of climate change, according to a new report.
A joint effort between the United Nations and the Union of Concerned Scientists, the report shows sites like the Statue of Liberty, Yellowstone National Park, Venice, Italy, and other popular locations could be either underwater or reduced to barren wastelands due to rising seas and soaring temperatures in the coming years.
The report, titled, “World Heritage and tourism in a Changing Climate,” lists 31 sites with World Heritage designations that are at risk.
“Every site in the report is already experiencing some impacts of climate change,” Adam Markham, the study’s lead author, told news.com.au.
“Some Easter Island statues are at risk of being lost to the sea because of coastal erosion.
“Many of the world’s most important coral reefs, including in the islands of New Caledonia in the western Pacific, have suffered unprecedented coral bleaching linked to climate change this year. Climate change could eventually even cause some World Heritage sites to lose their status.”
In the case of the Statue of Liberty, the study cites Hurricane Sandy, which left almost 75 percent of Liberty Island “inundated” with water in 2012.
“Climate change is dramatically increasing the likelihood of future storms like Sandy,” the report reads.
The study concludes that the climate-induced affects on these World Heritage sites would hurt the tourism industry as people decide not to visit them.
Source: Newsmax
