Produced with Europa Nostra UK and supported by World Monuments Fund Britain, the report brings together more than 30 case studies demonstrating how heritage organisations across the UK contribute to global partnerships and address shared challenges such as climate change, sustainable development and community resilience.
One of the featured examples is our work at the UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC), which connects the UK’s 60 UNESCO designations - including World Heritage Sites, Biosphere Reserves, Global Geoparks and Creative Cities - into a coordinated national network.
The case study highlights how UKNC programmes have strengthened collaboration across this network while linking UK sites more closely to international partners. Key initiatives include:
- Local to Global, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, which strengthens governance, collaboration and capacity across the UK’s UNESCO sites.
- The Scotland UNESCO Trail, developed with the Scottish Government and VisitScotland, demonstrating how UNESCO designations can support sustainable tourism and place-based economic development.
- The Climate Change and UNESCO Heritage (CCUH) programme, funded by HM Treasury’s Shared Outcomes Fund, which has developed tools and approaches helping communities address interconnected climate and heritage risks.
Together, these initiatives demonstrate how UNESCO-designated places can act as “living laboratories”, bringing together communities, researchers, policymakers and heritage organisations to develop practical responses to complex challenges.
The report highlights the growing role heritage can play within wider discussions about the UK’s international engagement and soft power. Read the full report below.
