Developed by the UK National Commission for UNESCO (UKNC) through the Climate Change and UNESCO Heritage (CCUH) project, the Framework shows how Biosphere Reserves, Global Geoparks and World Heritage Sites can help localise climate action and test innovative, place-based responses to interconnected environmental, cultural and social challenges.
Drawing on international evidence and a dedicated Research & Innovation Group, the Framework highlights the distinctive strengths of UNESCO sites: long-standing partnerships, strong governance, rich data, and deep community engagement. It identifies how these properties can support nexus approaches, linking climate, culture, ecology, governance, and society, and outlines key enabling factors, challenges, and opportunities for future research.
The Framework underpins the accompanying UNESCO Climate Action and Sustainability Research Agenda, which sets out priorities for the next decade, including participatory and inclusive research design, improved data integration, multi-scalar collaboration, and treating UNESCO sites as testbeds for innovation, adaptation, and long-term resilience.
