It's the ultimate symbol of freedom in the U.S., but the Statue of Liberty is facing a disturbing future because of rising seas and a warming planet, according to a. And it's not alone.

The report, spurred by the "," details just how drastic the effects will be on UNESCO World Heritage sites around the world, and in turn, the tourism industry as a whole.

Of the 1,000-plus World Heritage sites, the U.N.'s report takes a thorough look at 31 examples in 29 countries. Among the dozen or so in-depth case studies, the Statue of Liberty stands out for its financial implications. It also stands out because the landmark got a staggering preview of the extreme weather to come when it was hit by Hurricane Sandy in 2012.

In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, the Statue of Liberty and other facilities on Ellis Island had to be repaired and restored; as the U.N. reports, the damage has exceeded $77 million in cost, and $100 million has been set aside for repairs, restoration and preventative measures.

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Though the statue itself was unscathed, the docks on the island surrounding it were severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy. (John Moore/Getty Images)

"New York had never experienced a storm like Hurricane Sandy, and although previous coastal storms have hit the city with more rain and higher winds, the storm surge from Sandy was unprecedented," the report reads. The damage was astronomical, a preview of what's ahead as climate change is dealing out a one-two punch.

And because sea levels have already been rising in the area over the past century, the report notes that continued rise will amplify the effects of storms. On top of that, studies show that a warming ocean in the North Atlantic of hurricanes.

"The assets at risk on Liberty and Ellis Islands, including the Statue of Liberty itself, are valued at more than $1.5 billion, but the intangible cost of future damage to this international symbol of freedom and democracy is incalculable," the report said.

Ultimately, the report calls on the tourism industry to take a larger part in protecting the very heritage sites they rely on; that means taking action to mitigate the industry's own impact on the environment.

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"Currently contributing approximately 5 percent of the global total, carbon emissions from tourism are predicted to more than double within 25 years," the report reads.

But the new report should give local tourism industries a good reason to change course.

"If the attributes that attract tourists there in the first place are damaged by climate change, ," Adam Markham, the lead author of the report and deputy director of the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), told the Thomson Reuters Foundation.

The way forward? Environmentally conscious eco-tourism, a focus on conservation, and a great deal of planning ahead for the worst-case-scenarios.

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: What 15 World Heritage Sites Will Look Like in 2,000 Years, Thanks to Climate Change