Cultural heritage: Indigenous and cultural heritage values driving sustainable development

With 1,248 World Heritage Sites located across 170 countries, and 21 listed in Australia, the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDG) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) help harness economic and social benefits by promoting responsible environmental practices, and it’s good for business.

From architects and urban designers to public policy specialists and builders, we all contribute to creating cities and places that are diverse and inclusive of their population and environment. With a growing global focus on ESG and UN SDG compliance reporting, there is a strong opportunity for communities, including indigenous peoples and local cultural groups, to be fully involved in the design process to ensure the protection and celebration of cultural heritage.

The importance of cultural diversity

Appreciating cultural diversity is essential for those working in urban design today to ensure that a wide range of values is protected, as outlined in UN SDG Target 11, which aims to make cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by 2030. This includes protecting the world’s cultural and natural heritage, but it is also closely linked to other SDGs, including education (SDG 4), poverty reduction (SDG 1), and peace (SDG 16), ideally delivered through heritage initiatives that encourage national and global collaboration (SDG 17).

Cultural heritage is more than physical sites - it is valuable for its diverse cultural and emotional qualities. All forms of heritage, whether it be archaeological, built, or intangible, contribute to UN SDG Target 11.4 (protect the world’s cultural and natural heritage) objectives. Heritage also inspires and shapes the identities of the communities that live and work in them, and it is these communities that are responsible for preserving the sense of identity and continuity of urban heritage for future generations to come.

Heritage preservation is under threat

Today, heritage preservation faces increasing challenges due to economic and social pressures. Ferocious urban growth, housing shortages, limited traditional skills, and low cultural awareness make heritage protection possible for relatively few urban developments. For those who can manage it, it is mostly those who can bear the high costs, time delays, and uncertainty associated with historic sites. These trends can threaten heritage values through conflicts of interest, insufficient resources, and poor decision-making, and the situation is even more complex when development occurs on traditional lands or in areas with sensitive environmental values.

Integrating cultural knowledge into planning and design

Cultural heritage plays a dynamic role in contemporary society through respectful, mutually beneficial collaboration among developers, local communities, and heritage sites. Heritage can also be an important economic driver, particularly in tourism, when a rights-based planning approach is adopted to maintain social and cultural connections to place.

Collaboration with Traditional Owners and Knowledge Holders allows their cultural insights to guide the design process, resulting in culturally sensitive designs that foster a shared sense of ownership and social cohesion. This approach ensures that both tangible and intangible heritage values are recognised and preserved.

Supporting heritage preservation

While national frameworks are increasingly recognising the value of First Nations contributions, action is still required to ensure heritage values are reflected for their positive social, cultural, and economic outcomes. Heritage preservation has the power to strengthen cultural diversity, social inclusion, economic prosperity, and overall well-being, so it needs to be given greater consideration.

Companies can take a proactive role in heritage preservation, not only to meet compliance requirements but to create lasting, positive impact. Actively involving local communities, ensuring diverse voices are heard, and integrating heritage values into planning, investment decisions, and development programs are essential steps for achieving UN SDG and ESG goals. Thoughtful preservation creates a legacy for future generations by protecting both the physical and intangible values of cultural heritage across all aspects of the community and economy.