New doctoral thesis on how to balance energy transition and conservation of cultural value

Harsh Vardhan Bhati’s doctoral thesis, through four articles, investigates how international legal obligations to protect cultural heritage under the World Heritage Convention are interpreted and implemented in light of commitments to mitigate climate change. Focusing on three World Heritage cities, Visby (Sweden), Jaipur (India), and Bath (United Kingdom), the thesis examines how national and international legal obligations are interpreted and applied by decision-makers and stakeholders locally, particularly in balancing heritage conservation with energy transition and sustainability. Anchored in doctrinal legal investigation and complemented by comparative and qualitative empirical methods, the research engages with Sustainable Development Goals 7, 11, and 13.

While Sweden, India, and the United Kingdom have ratified both treaties, domestic implementation differs based on legal traditions, institutional structures, and local regulatory systems. All three cities rely on multi-level governance, involving national and subnational authorities and national and local legal instruments. However, they vary in the degree of decentralization, legal mandates, form of recognition of World Heritage status, integration of climate targets in local planning, access to financial support, and the presence of World Heritage management plans. Energy-related measures are generally permitted only if they do not compromise outstanding universal value. Although heritage preservation remains a legal priority, discretion granted to authorities varies.

While all three cities were part of the comparative legal analysis, empirical findings are drawn from interviews in Visby and Jaipur. In both, implementation is shaped not only by formal rules but also by how those rules are interpreted and applied in practice. Findings show that World Heritage status strengthens heritage protection but can also complicate local adoption of sustainable energy measures. Tourism, gentrification, and socio-economic shifts create further pressure. Stakeholders in both cities called for cross-sectoral collaboration, better coordination, clearer legal guidance, financial and educational support, and stronger community engagement.

The thesis also draws on the concept of biocultural heritage, which recognizes the interconnectedness between biodiversity, cultural practices, and traditional knowledge, and emphasizes the importance of protecting human–environment relationships even in urban settings. By comparing legal systems and local contexts, the study contributes to broader discussions on climate-resilient and inclusive heritage governance in World Heritage Sites.