World Heritage City Lab – Historic Cities, Climate Change, Water, and Energy

A World Heritage City Lab, organised by the World Heritage Centre in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science of the Netherlands, was held from 16 to 17 December 2021.

The International World Heritage City Lab ‘Historic Cities, Climate Change, Water, and Energy’ was organised in the framework of the 10th Anniversary of the HUL Recommendation, and builds on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, as well as on the 1972 Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage.

The conference aimed to identify key challenges and opportunities facing historic cities and settlements – particularly in coastal areas - and devise forward-looking approaches that integrate cultural and natural heritage in climate action, with a special focus on design and strategic planning.

The two-day event brought together international experts, site managers and National Focal Points of World Heritage cities, as well as urban planners, heritage professionals and youth actively involved in the field of culture and urban design. A series of international lectures discussed regional contexts and analyse specific case studies and innovative local ideas in detail. In addition, interactive discussions addressed forward-looking solutions for environmental and climate-related problems. Practitioners and experts exchanged with the audience on how historic cities can respond to climate change and build their resilience through culture and effective design. These discussions will contribute to building on the HUL Recommendation to foster urban development and heritage conservation as complementing elements towards sustainable urban futures.