Decision 44 COM 5D

World Heritage Convention and Sustainable Development

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC/21/44.COM/5D,
2. Recalling Decision 43 COM 5C adopted at its 43rd session (Baku, 2019), 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 texts and processes of the Convention, including the Operational Guidelines, Periodic Reporting, and the Policy Compendium;
4. Takes note of the draft Synergies Table developed by the World Heritage Centre in cooperation with the Advisory Bodies reflecting interlinkages between the WH-SDP, the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (2030 Agenda) and other major global agreements and invites States Parties undertaking activities towards the 2030 Agenda or other major global agreements to build on these synergies to enhance the contribution of the World Heritage Convention to further sustainable development;
5. Also takes note of the tools developed including ‘World Heritage Canopy: Heritage solutions for sustainable futures’, and the drafts of the World Heritage Sustainable Development Preliminary Health-Check, and the World Heritage Project Sustainability Check and encourages States Parties to support their future development and pilot implementation;
6. Requests the World Heritage Centre to continue to pursue, within the available resources, the development of activities including policies, tools, guidance, and communication towards operationalising the WH-SDP supporting States Parties in its implementation including with mitigation and adaptation strategies to climate change and protect the Outstanding Universal Value of World Heritage properties;
7. Also 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;
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 including the development of tools and guidance and their pilot implementation;
9. Requests the World Heritage Centre, in cooperation with the Advisory Bodies, to present a progress report in this regard at its 46th session.