By Resolution 23 GA 11, the General Assembly of States Parties took note of the Policy Document on Climate Action for World Heritage as endorsed by the extended 44th session of the World Heritage Committee (Fuzhou/online, 2021) and decided to establish an Open-ended Working Group of States Parties, assisted by the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies, with the mandate to develop an updated and final version of the Policy Document for consideration of the 24th session of the General Assembly in 2023.
Bureau of the Open-ended Working Group:
22 March 2022 (online) 4.00pm – 6.00pm
This first meeting was the occasion to provide background information on this matter to all States Parties and to proceed with the election of a Chairperson (H.E. Ms. Yvette SYLLA, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Madagascar to UNESCO) and two Vice-Chairpersons (Australia and Colombia). The position of Rapporteur will be filled at the next meeting of the Group.
During this inception meeting, the Open-ended Working Group also decided on the frequency of its forthcoming meetings, on the lead up to the 24th session of the General Assembly of States Parties in November 2023, as follows:
16 September 2022 (in presentia/online) 2.30pm - 5.30pm
The 2nd meeting of the Open-ended Working Group took place place on 16 September 2022, both in Room XI (Fontenoy) and online.
This meeting was chaired by H.E. Ms. Yvette SYLLA, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Madagascar to UNESCO. On this occasion, Ms. Barbara ENGELS (Germany) was designated Rapporteur of the Working Group.
The presentation of the report of the Panel of experts was made by Ms. Abena White (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), Rapporteur of the Panel. The full report of the Panel of experts is available below, including its detailed recommendations on the text of the Policy Document. A 'clean' version of the draft Policy Document recommended by the Panel of experts is available below.
At the end of the meeting, the Chairperson of the Working Group recalled the working methodology and the expected results of the Working Group, and the members of the Working Group agreed on a detailed schedule for the next meetings.
23 November 2022 (in presentia/online) 10.00am - 5.30pm
The 3rd meeting of the Open-ended Working Group took place on 23 November 2022, both in Room XI (Fontenoy) and online.
This meeting was chaired by H.E. Ms. Yvette SYLLA, Ambassador, Permanent Delegate of the Republic of Madagascar to UNESCO.
This meeting was the occasion to initiate the revision of the draft Policy Document recommended by the Panel of experts with the adoption of paragrpahs 3 (and the addition of a footnote), 8 (and the addition of the definition of Carbon neutrality in the Glossary), 9, 10, 13, 14, 16 and 17 (see below).
During this meeting, members of the Open-ended Working Group also proceeded with the election of an additional Vice-Chairperson (Lebanon).
31 January 2023 (in presentia/online) 10.00am - 5.30pm
The 4th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group took place on 31 January 2023, both in Room XI (Fontenoy) and online.
The meeting was chaired by Ms. Carolina DIAZ ACOSTA, Minister Plenipotentiary, Chargé d'Affaires a.i., Permanent Delegation of Colombia to UNESCO.
During this meeting, the members of the Open-ended Working Group continued to revise the draft Policy Document recommended by the Panel of experts, by the adoption of paragraphs 22, 24, 26 and 32, and starting the revision of Paragraph 36. It was also decided that paragraphs 11, 21, 25, 27, 58 and 94 would be discussed informally among interested members until the next meeting.
For ease of reference, the version of the Policy Document below (V6) includes all amendments received prior to the 4th meeting (i.e., as at 31/01/2023, 10.00am, Paris time).
21 March 2023 (in presentia/online) 10.00am - 5.30pm
The 5th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group took place on 21 March 2023, both in Room XI (Fontenoy) and online.
The meeting was chaired by Ms. Carolina DIAZ ACOSTA, Minister Plenipotentiary, Chargé d'Affaires a.i., Permanent Delegation of Colombia to UNESCO.
During this meeting, the members of the Open-ended Working Group continued to revise the draft Policy Document recommended by the Panel of experts with the adoption of paragraphs 36, 38, 49 (and the addition of a footnote), 55, 65, 79.2, 81 and 85. During this meeting, members of the Open-ended Working Group also proceeded with the election of an additional Vice-Chairperson (Poland).
It was also decided that paragraphs 11, 21, 25, 27, 58 and 94 would continue to be discussed informally among interested members until the next meeting, as well as the definitions to be included in the Glossary.
For ease of reference, the version of the Policy Document (V8) including the amendments approved during the 5th meeting (i.e., as at 21/03/2023, 5.30pm, Paris time) will shortly be made available below.
3 May 2023 (in presentia/online) 10.00am - 5.30pm
The 6th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group took place on 3 May 2023, both in Room XI (Fontenoy) and online.
The meeting was chaired by Ms. Carolina DIAZ ACOSTA, Minister Plenipotentiary, Chargé d'Affaires a.i., Permanent Delegation of Colombia to UNESCO.
During this meeting, the members of the Open-ended Working Group continued the revision of the draft Policy Document, notably paragraphs 11, 21, 25 and 27.
18 July 2023 (in presentia/online) 10.00am - 5.30pm
The 7th meeting of the Open-ended Working Group took place on 18 July 2023, both in Room XI (Fontenoy) and online.
The meeting was chaired by Ms. Carolina DIAZ ACOSTA, Minister Plenipotentiary, Chargé d'Affaires a.i., Permanent Delegation of Colombia to UNESCO.
During this meeting, the members of the Open-ended Working Group continued the revision of the draft Policy Document, notably paragraphs 21, 25, 27 (Chapeau and Goal 3) and 58.
(3 november) (in presentia/online) 2.30pm - 5.30pm
The eighth and last meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on World Heritage and Climate Change took place on 3 November 2023, from 2.30 pm to 5.30 pm (Paris time), in semi-presentia (Room XI and online). The meeting was chaired by Ms. Carolina DIAZ ACOSTA (Colombia).
During this meeting, the members of the Open-ended Working Group continued the revision of the draft Policy Document and agreed on a consensual text to be recommended for adoption to the 24th session of the General Assembly of States Parties (22-23 November 2023).
The General Assembly,
provided the above be undertaken in consultation with States Parties;
The General Assembly,
The World Heritage Committee,