Fossil fuel extraction in UNESCO sites to rise nearly 50% in coming decades: Report

Nearly one-third of these projects are being developed within G20 nations, says the report

At least 36 World Heritage Sites and Biosphere Reserves across 27 countries have, or will be, impacted by oil, gas, and coal projects if planned developments and concessions are allowed to continue, a new report has found.

The report from the research group Leave it in the Ground Initiative (LINGO) revealed that UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserves and UNESCO World Heritage Sites are under threat by the expansive ambitions of the fossil fuel industry. It is estimated that these activities will release 11.9 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere globally during the next few decades, and that the number of these ventures will increase by almost 50% during that time.

About one-third of these fossil fuel projects are being built in G20 countries, including prominent locations like the well-known Atlantic Forest on Brazil’s Discovery Coast, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, and Canada’s Rocky Mountain National Parks.

Threat to cultural heritage around the world

Colombia, the country host for COP16–the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity— has two proposed coal mines in Colombia’s Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta that could generate nearly 1.4 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions and are currently in the permitting stages, with construction expected within the next decade. 

South Africa is the country with the biggest potential emissions from fossil extraction projects in UNESCO areas. The project is a complex of four coal mines in the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve that could emit more than 6.2 billion tonnes of CO2, fifteen times the country’s annual emissions, the report found. 

The largest oil and gas project planned within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is the Hail & Ghasha mega-project situated in the Marawah UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, host of last year’s COP28 and next year’s World Conservation Congress.

Limited power with the UN

UNESCO-listed areas include some of humanity’s most important natural and cultural treasures. Yet, they are threatened by fossil fuel drilling, mining, and exploration projects. 

These sites are still under threat by the fossil fuel industry despite UNESCO’s 2013 ‘no go’ commitment calling on nations and industries to cease such activities in these areas.

Alice McGown, lead author and policy and data specialist commented,“Fossil fuel projects in UNESCO-protected areas are indefensible in 2024, and represent a blatant affront to conservation efforts worldwide. While UNESCO’s mandate is clear, its power as a UN agency is limited in preventing the fossil fuel industry’s violation into these areas. It’s alarming that state-owned companies are preparing to drill in protected regions beyond 2030.”

The report said that UNESCO cannot force an end to unsustainable fossil fuel extraction within these conservation areas. Instead, countries must enact more robust protections. However, the report added that financial and technical tools are available to enable these commitments and to better protect UNESCO-listed conservation sites from fossil fuel extraction projects.

The non-extraction commitments can support countries’ pledges under the Paris Climate Agreement, the Convention on Biological Diversity, and accelerate national decarbonisation policies. The report highlighted the urgent need for stronger protections, particularly in biosphere reserves, calling on nations and industries to cease such activities in these globally significant areas.

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