Skip to main content Skip to main navigation Skip to search

Queensland and NSW floods 2022

Visit recovery.gov.au to see what help is available.

Close
Home

Top navigation main

  • News & media
  • Jobs
  • Ministers
  • Contact us
Main menu

AWE Main

  • Climate change
    Climate change Driving climate action, science and innovation so we are ready for the future.
    • Climate science and adaptation
    • Australia's climate change strategies
    • Emissions reduction
    • Emissions reporting
    • International commitments
    • Climate Active
    • Climate change publications and data
    • Australia’s National Greenhouse Accounts (Emissions Data)
    Stronger action on climate change

    Stronger action on climate change

    See how the Australian Government is committed to taking more ambitious action on climate change.

    Find out more

  • Energy
    Energy Building a secure and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
    • Energy policy in Australia
    • Energy and Climate Change Ministerial Council
    • Renewable energy
    • Energy publications
    • energy.gov.au
    • Energy Rating
    • Commercial Building Disclosure Program
    • Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS)
    • Your Home
    Decorative image

    Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme

    Guiding energy-efficient design and construction for a net-zero future

    Find out more about NatHERS

  • Environment
    Environment Improving stewardship and sustainable management of Australia’s environment.
    • Bushfire recovery
    • Climate change and the environment
    • Biodiversity
    • EPBC Act
    • Environmental information and data
    • International activities
    • Invasive species
    • Land
    • Marine
    • Partnerships
    • Protection
    • Report a breach of environment law
    • Threatened species & ecological communities
    • Waste and recycling
    • Wildlife trade
    Decorative image

    Read our Nature Positive Plan

    Our plan sets out the Australian Government’s commitment to environmental law reform

    Find out more

  • Water
    Water Improving the sustainable management of Australia’s water supply for industry, the environment and communities.
    • Coal, Coal seam gas (CSG) and water
    • Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder
    • Water policy and resources
    • Wetlands
    Water matters

    Water Matters

    Keep up with the latest news on the department's work in managing Australia's water resources.

    Read the latest edition here

  • Parks and heritage
    Parks and heritage Managing Australia’s iconic national parks, historic places and living landscapes.
    • Australian Marine Parks
    • Australian National Botanic Gardens
    • Booderee National Park
    • Kakadu National Park
    • Christmas Island National Park
    • National parks
    • Norfolk Island National Park
    • Heritage
    • Pulu Keeling National Park
    • The Great Barrier Reef
    • Uluṟu-Kata Tjuṯa National Park
    The reef

    Great Barrier Reef

    Australia is protecting and conserving this World Heritage Area.

    Find out more

  • Science and research
    Science and research Undertaking research and collecting data to support informed decisions and policies.
    • Climate change
    • Australia's biological resources
    • National Environmental Science Program (NESP)
    • Office of the Science Convenor
    • Australian Biological Resource Study (ABRS)
    • State of the Environment (SoE) reporting
    • Bird and bat banding
    • Supervising Scientist
    Our climate is changing

    Our climate is changing

    Find out more about how climate science helps Australians with the impacts of climate change.

    Find out more

  • About us
    About us We lead Australia’s response to climate change and sustainable energy use, and protect our environment, heritage and water.
    • Accountability and reporting
    • Assistance, grants and tenders
    • Fees and charges
    • News and media
    • Our commitment to you
    • People and jobs
    • What we do
    • Who we are
    Decorative image

    Juukan Gorge response

    Read the Australian Government's response to the destruction at Juukan Gorge and the recommendations

    Read the response

  • Online services
    Online services We do business with you using online platforms. This makes it easier for you to meet your legal requirements.
Department of Climate Change, Energy, Enviroment and Water

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Parks and heritage
  3. Heritage
  4. About Australia's heritage
  5. World Heritage listing process

Sidebar first - EN - Heritage

  • About Australia's heritage
    • World heritage
      • Managing World Heritage in Australia
      • Understanding World Heritage Outstanding Universal Value
      • World Heritage listing process
      • World heritage criteria
      • Implications of World Heritage Listing
      • The World Heritage Convention
      • Management of Australia's world heritage listed places
        • Indigenous People & World Heritage
      • Notification of development proposals
    • National heritage
      • National Heritage List criteria
      • The National Heritage listing process
      • Managing National Heritage places
    • Commonwealth heritage
      • Commonwealth Heritage listing process
      • Commonwealth Heritage List criteria
      • Protecting Places
      • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Overseas Places of Historic Significance to Australia

World Heritage listing process

Only the Australian Government can nominate Australian places for entry on this list. The World Heritage Committee assesses nominated places against set criteria and makes the final decision as to the places that are included on the World Heritage List. World Heritage sites in Australia are protected under Australian Government law and in most cases under relevant State law also.

Dates and deadlines for nominations

Nominations have to be received by the World Heritage Committee Secretariat at the headquarters of UNESCO in Paris by 1 February each year for consideration by the Committee in the following year.

The assessment process

The World Heritage Committee conducts the assessment process according to a set of rules of procedures and operational guidelines that ensure objectivity, consistency and professionalism. These operational guidelines are updated periodically.

The assessment process follows these steps:

  1. Nominations are received by the World Heritage Committee Secretariat.
  2. Nominations are listed in priority order by the World Heritage Committee to ensure the World Heritage List is truly representative of the world's outstanding natural and cultural places.
  3. Nominations are referred to the World Heritage Centre to commence the assessment process. The Centre is assisted in this task by international non-government organisations that are asked to provide impartial professional evaluations of each nomination. The International Council for Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM) are the advisory bodies for cultural properties, while the World Conservation Union (IUCN) advises on natural properties. In addition, these organisations consult with relevant scientific and technical experts from around the world.
  4. The evaluations undertaken by these advisory bodies are considered by the World Heritage Committee, at its annual meeting, which considers the Bureau's recommendations and evaluations from the non-government organisations and makes a decision on the inscription of the property.

World Heritage nomination and listing processes are rigorous, and many nominations have been withdrawn or rejected because they fail the assessment process.

Thanks for your feedback.
Thanks! Your feedback has been submitted.

We aren't able to respond to your individual comments or questions.
To contact us directly phone us or submit an online inquiry

CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.

Please verify that you are not a robot.

Skip

Footer

  • Contact us
  • Accessibility
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • FOI
Last updated: 03 October 2021

© Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We acknowledge the Traditional Owners of country throughout Australia and recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.