Beyond national jurisdiction: a proposition for tackling wicked problems through World Heritage sites and practices

ABSTRACT In this provocation, we explore the benefits of expanding the scope of the UNESCO World Heritage List from being limited to sites within territorial boundaries to include examples beyond national jurisdiction. By this we mean sites that are illustrative of the entire Earth-Moon system. Currently, over 45% of the Earth’s surface lies beyond the jurisdiction of the 1972 World Heritage Convention, meaning outside the borders (lands and territorial waters) of the 196 State Parties that have ratified the Convention. Thus, an ability to truly embody globally outstanding examples of cultural diversity and natural wealth is currently unachievable. While global inclusivity is not a specified goal of the Convention, it calls on the international community to cooperate in the protection of the world’s universally outstanding heritage. In this paper, we propose a thematic study that examines cross- and extra-national inscriptions (that is, beyond national boundaries) that highlight the potential for that same international cooperation in recognising those sites that, arguably, best highlight the impact of wicked problems on planetary health. To illustrate our provocation, we discuss six examples of sites, outlining their potential outstanding universal value in relation to the wicked problems of climate change, environmental pollution, conflict, and social injustice.