Cultural heritage resources are important due to their contribution to the economic value and because they generate a sense on commonness within societies.
Cultural heritage includes several structures such as art and crafts products, traditional food and houses, statues, temples, museums, and events amongst others.
The relationship between climate change and cultural heritage is a growing concern, with both tangible and intangible cultural resources at risk.
Climate change has potential to impact on all types of heritage, through weathering and erosion of geological and built heritage, changes in biome and ecosystem, sea-level rise and coastal flooding, and increased climate hazard events.
This reality implies that we need specific management plans, national policy guidelines, for mitigating against the impacts of present and future climate change and variability.
Culture is defined as the set of distinctive, spiritual, material, and affective features that characterize a society or social group, concerning ways of life, fundamental human rights, values, beliefs and traditions, Urban culture creates relationships between people and values.
It is considered a suitable terrain to influence, inspire, civil commitment toward sustainability and climate.
Some forms of cultural participation have demonstrated the ability to drive climate-related behaviour change ,and many societies and governments are already harnessing the power of culture to create growth, regenerate neighbourhoods, strengthen social cohesion, and inspire transformational change.
During the UN Climate Change Conference 28 in Dubai - United Arab Emirates (UN COP28), governments have been asked to expedite integrating culture, values, and diverse knowledge systems into their climate action and mainstreaming climate action across cultural agendas.
According to the OECD (2022), cultural participation can interact and reinforce other forms of civic engagement, such as political participation, volunteering, and community engagement. the inclusion of culture and traditional knowledge in climate adaptation and mitigation plans revealed that the necessary resources (heritage, groups, and values) are missing.
Bridging the gaps: cultural heritage for climate action
Traditional and Indigenous knowledge, practices, social customs, ethical values, belief systems, rituals, and worldviews offer communities resilient approaches and guidance in adapting to a changing climate and assisting in mitigating its effects.
Cultural heritage conservation and management, community resilience, and climate action should be considered in frameworks, integrating climate adaptation, resilience, and traditional knowledge and practices into heritage research, methodologies, conservation approaches, and management processes.
In the same breadth our cultural landscapes are adversely impacted by various development pressures, which calls for a holistic and integrated approach in their management, in the mineral energy complex mining development has been ranked highly as one of the most common factors threatening the conservation and management of World Heritage properties around the world.
In South African the immediate example is Mapungubwe Cultural landscape in the context development of the Musina Special Economic Industrial Development Zone.
The integration of heritage into the just transition framework in South Africa is therefore a necessary strategic approach to ensure that the transition to a low-carbon economy is not only environmentally sustainable but also socially equitable. The Just Transition Framework guides South Africa's transition to a low-carbon, climate-resilient economy and society and sets out actions that the government, together with its social partners, will take to ensure that the transition is fair, equitable, and participatory.
The Just Transition Framework is built on a participatory, multistakeholder approach that helps navigate trade-offs and diverse interests, while measuring success not only in green megawatts but also through reduced inequality, increased youth employment, and greater representation of women in decision-making.
The Just Transition Framework is tailored to those most impacted by the changes that lie ahead, including workers, jobseekers, and community members who have spoken passionately about the unfairness of their current situations and their vision for a more equal and more inclusive society - society where cultural and natural heritage are not only remembered, but reimagined and safeguarded for generations to come.
There is a consensus that the capacity of culture and cultural and creative industries is underused and misplaced in key climate policy discussions.
The Presidential Climate Commission has since its genesis recognized the historic contributions of communities and sectors, such as indigenous farming practices and traditional knowledge, to the carbon economy.
By mainstreaming these contributions, the just transition can move beyond historical harms and transition to a post-carbon economy that supports the pride of local communities and tangible and intangible traditions.
From a Just Transition perspective, Heritage Month is more than a nation building observance, it is a call to connect heritage with the urgent task of building a sustainable, inclusive, and low-carbon economy.
As a country we are not short of best- practice - we have lessons in indigenous farming practices, community stewardship of land, and traditional knowledge about water nd biodiversity as tools for resilience in the face of climate change.
Blessing Manale, executive manager, communications and consensus building, Presidential Climate Commission.
**The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Media Group.