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Majority of UNESCO World Heritage Sites Exposed to Severe Water Risks

Climate-driven extremes are driving drought, flooding, pollution at UNESCO sites worldwide.

The Taj Mahal faces water scarcity that is increasing pollution and depleting groundwater, the analysis states (PTI)
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Taj Mahal faces water scarcity that is increasing pollution and depleting groundwater. (ANI)
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Overview

  • About 73% of the 1,172 non-marine UNESCO World Heritage Sites face at least one severe water risk according to joint UNESCO–WRI data released July 1–2, 2025.
  • Cultural landmarks face chiefly water scarcity and pollution; natural sites encounter riverine and coastal flooding risks.
  • The Taj Mahal in India is losing groundwater, suffering pollution that damages its marble; a 2022 flood in Yellowstone National Park prompted over $20 million in infrastructure repairs.
  • Regions such as the Middle East—including Iraq’s southern marshes—North Africa, parts of South Asia, northern China face intensifying water stress, with the share of sites under high-to-extreme exposure set to rise from 40% to 44% by 2050.
  • Experts from UNESCO, the World Resources Institute recommend restoring wetlands, conserving headwater forests, enacting water policies to bolster site resilience against drought, flooding, pollution.