IN-PERSON: Prague – Section A

Abstract

Sustainability has long been a central focus of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention (WHC), the leading instrument for heritage conservation. As heritage management has become a significant driver of economic growth, social equity, and environmental protection, it is necessary to align conservation programmes with the sustainable development framework. However, the WHC faces difficulties in promoting and contributing to sustainable development. Heritage actors operating under the WHC framework regularly run across conflicting objectives with the widespread adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although, in theory, the social, ecological, cultural, and economic aspects of sustainable development can be balanced, its practical implementation often requires finding workable and balanced trade-offs between the four dimensions of sustainability. As awareness of climate change has increased dramatically over the last ten years, there is a need to reprioritize sustainability dimensions and goals taken into account in specific heritage conservation programmes leading to hard choices framed as dilemma situations. In this paper, those dilemma situations in the heritage context are examined in more detail, and it is discussed how the WHC may assist in dealing with them and making the best judgments when faced with challenging sustainability choices.