Decision of the World Heritage Committee 43 COM 5C

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/19/43.COM/5C,
2. Recalling Decisions 36 COM 5C, 38 COM 5D, 39 COM 5D, 40 COM 5C and 41 COM 5C adopted respectively at its 36th (Saint Petersburg, 2012), 38th (Doha, 2014), 39th (Bonn, 2015), 40th (Istanbul/UNESCO, 2016) and 41st (Krakow, 2017) sessions, as well as Resolution 20 GA 13, adopted by the General Assembly at its 20th session (UNESCO, 2015),
3. Welcomes the follow-up activities and the progress made so far in mainstreaming the “Policy Document for the integration of a sustainable development perspective into the processes of the World Heritage Convention” (WH-SDP) into the activities of the World Heritage Centre and the Advisory Bodies and into the processes of the Convention;
4. Recalling that the WH-SDP stipulates that all dimensions of sustainable development should apply to natural, cultural and mixed properties in their diversity, and that sustainable development is underpinned by good governance frameworks, requests the States Parties to take a systematic and holistic approach to mainstreaming the WH-SDP into their national and local policies, processes, and initiatives related to the implementation of the Convention and to development in and around World Heritage properties;
5. Invites the States Parties undertaking activities towards the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to include synergies with the WH-SDP, whenever possible, in order to tap into the potential of the World Heritage Convention to contribute to sustainable development;
6. Encourages the World Heritage Centre, in cooperation with the Advisory Bodies and other relevant partners, to reflect on interlinkages between the implementation of the WH-SDP and the UN Sustainable Development Goals as well as other relevant global agreements, such as those related to climate change and disaster risk reduction, and related World Heritage strategies and policies that could inform activities, tools, guidance, and communications related to sustainable development;
7. Also requests the World Heritage Centre pursue, within the available resources, the development of activities including policies, tools, operational activities, guidance and communication towards operationalising the WH-SDP and supporting the States Parties in its implementation;
8. Calls on States Parties and other potential partners to contribute financially or through in-kind support to activities towards mainstreaming and operationalising the WH-SDP;
9. Decides to inscribe an agenda item concerning World Heritage and Sustainable Development at its 45th session in 2021, and finally requests the World Heritage Centre, in cooperation with the Advisory Bodies, to present a progress report in this regard.