Climate change threat to UNESCO sites

Some of the world's most prized landmarks and monuments, including the Statue of Liberty and Tower of London, could disappear before our eyes in the next 2000 years if the climate continues to change at current rates, according to a new study.

The study calculated the temperatures at which the 720 UNESCO World Heritage Sites would be impacted by sea level rise, concluding that 136 are in danger if global average temperatures rise to 3 degrees Celsius above pre-Industrial levels. That number is well within the range projected in the latest UN report on climate change, which projected that global average temperatures would rise by 0.3 to 4.8 degrees C by the end of the century.

Read on to see more of the UNESCO sites that could be under threat.

Historic Center of Brugge

A medieval historic settlement in Belgium.

Complex of Hue Monuments

Hué , Vietnam served as the administrative center of southern Vietnam in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Elephanta Caves

The rock-cut Elephanta Caves, in western India, were constructed about the mid-5th to 6th centuries AD.

Ibiza

This Spanish Island is home to both ecological diversity and a wealth of archeological sites.

Lamu Old Town

Located in Kenya, this is the oldest and best-preserved Swahili settlement in East Africa.

Mosque city of Bagerhat

This ancient city in Bangladesh was founded by the Turkish general Ulugh Khan Jahan in the 15th century.

Historic center of Olinda

This Brazilian city was founded in the 16th century by the Portugese, the town’s history is linked to the sugar-cane industry.

Piazza del Duomo

This Italian square houses a group of world famous monuments, including the "Leaning Tower" of Pisa.

Robben Island

Located off the coast of Cape Town, South Africa, this Island was home to the prison where Nelson Mandela was jailed by the Apartheid regime.

Historic Center of St. Petersburg

Called the "Venice of the North," with its numerous canals and more than 400 bridges, this Russian city boasts an architectural heritage blending Baroque and pure neoclassical styles.

Sydney Opera House

Inaugurated in 1973, this Australian landmark is a great architectural work of the 20th century.

Tower of London

The massive White Tower is a typical example of Norman military architecture, whose influence was felt throughout the kingdom.

Stone Town of Zanzibar

The Stone Town of Zanzibar is a fine example of the Swahili coastal trading towns of East Africa.