Protecting our World Heritage, Insurance a Sustainable Future: The first guide for the global insurance industry to protect our world’s priceless and irreplaceable assets

This report provides a global framework for the insurance industry to address environmental, social, and governance risks related to World Heritage Sites. Recognising these areas as irreplaceable assets, the document establishes guidelines for insurers to function as responsible risk managers, insurers, and investors. The scope encompasses both underwriting and investment activities, focusing on preventing damage from harmful industrial operations such as mining, oil and gas extraction, and large-scale infrastructure. Methodologically, the guide employs a risk-based approach, categorising sectors by threat levels and providing practical assessment tools like checklists and watchlists. Key findings indicate that nearly half of natural sites face industrial threats, necessitating proactive engagement, enhanced data access, and the potential declining of transactions to ensure long-term conservation and climate resilience.