We believe in the power of cultural heritage and its ability to help make the world a better place. Our contribution towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) involves demonstrating how heritage conservation can play a part in building an equitable, inclusive and peaceful future for people everywhere.
Aligning our work with the SDGs also highlights the diverse ways culture can improve our lives and our planet. Here are some examples.
SDG 3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages. Cultural heritage has a crucial role to play in the health and well-being of communities. As such, engagement with heritage has a positive impact on quality life. All our work promotes access to heritage of all types and celebrates its value for the well-being of individuals and communities now and in the future.
SDG 4: Quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities. ICCROM’s capacity building initiatives and professional training are fundamental to our mission. Our courses provide unique learning opportunities and share knowledge around the world. Activities in the current strategic cycle are also oriented towards enabling young people to pursue careers in cultural heritage.
We work to promote cultural diversity and we do so by promoting SDG 5: Gender equality and empower all women and girls. ICCROM is firmly committed to capacity development of women at all stages of their careers, and their professional participation in the cultural heritage sector. (ICCROM Gender Equality Plan)
SDG 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all. ICCROM advocates for cultural heritage conservation as a means of supporting and promoting sustainable tourism, especially through its World Heritage activities, as well as the creation of jobs and promotion of local crafts and cultural products.
SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation. Just as culture adapts to change, we are responding to the challenges and opportunities of the digital era. Our capacity building programmes and research activities promote innovative approaches and viewpoints to heritage conservation while advocating for stronger support for science in heritage. At the same time, ICCROM also promotes the sustainable use of heritage for economic innovation.
SDG 10: Reduce inequalities. Through our services and activities, we are working to address knowledge gaps in cultural heritage care and management and empowering communities to benefit from their heritage. By adopting a people-centred approach, we promote inclusion, irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, economic or other status.
SDG 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable and in particular Target 11.4 calls for strengthening efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. ICCROM contributes to achieving this SDG through all its programmes. ICCROM’s advisory role in the World Heritage Committee, its work on linking cultural and natural heritage, and its focus on disaster risk management are oriented towards this SDG.
SDG 12: Ensure Sustainable Consumption and Production: We are committed to sustainable management and the efficient use of natural resources in our activities. We aim to generate less waste and raise awareness of sustainable behaviours and practices in the heritage sector. Together we can improve our consumption and go greener.
SDG 13: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Culture has a correlation with climate action in terms of preserving and managing ecosystems and recovering from natural disasters. Through its activities in disaster risk management, ICCROM promotes cultural heritage as a means of creating resilience in communities that are vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This includes integrating traditional knowledge systems as a means of prevention and mitigation, advocating for heritage within national policies as a tool of resilience, and promoting adaptive reuse of heritage buildings to cut carbon emissions. At the same time, through its programmes, ICCROM also addresses the vulnerability of cultural heritage due to climate change.
SDG 16: Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels. ICCROM’s motto, “Conserving Culture, Promoting Diversity” has at its very core the idea that decision-making at all levels must be inclusive and participatory. We promote cultural diversity and cultural understanding in our approach to conservation and knowledge sharing. This focus on inclusion and participation drives all our activities and enhances peace.
SDG 17: Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development. ICCROM brings together people from around the world in the common cause of sustainable heritage preservation. Through capacity building, cooperation in research, and interactive dialogue with governments and international organizations, we promote access to knowledge and the exchange of information.