New World Resources Institute analysis finds that 73% of non-marine UNESCO World Heritage Sites now face at least one severe water-related risk — such as drought, flooding or pollution. WRI’s Aqueduct data also reveals that 21% of sites face dual problems — having too much water one year, and too little the next.
Sites at risk include global icons such as the Taj Mahal, Angkor, Yellowstone National Park, Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls, the Sagarmatha National Park (Mt Everest) and many more. With water stress projected to intensify in many regions, the implications for ecosystems, cultural heritage, and local economies are significant - but solutions are within reach.
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