Policy Brief: Reimagining Petrocultures and Cultural Heritage

This policy brief responds to how petrocultures—cultural practices shaped by fossil fuel dependency—have historically influenced and continue to inform cultural heritage narratives. It highlights how heritage institutions have long normalized foregrounding industrial progress narratives while sidelining environmental justice and colonial legacies.

Drawing on interdisciplinary evidence from energy humanities, heritage studies, and critical historical analyses, the brief argues that heritage institutions must be repositioned to address urgent environmental challenges and promote sustainable, carbon-neutral futures. The PITCH project, with deep expertise in cultural heritage and environmental policy, offers actionable strategies to reshape heritage practices for a more equitable and
sustainable future. The brief is aimed at policymakers, cultural institutions, and academic stakeholders, and calls for innovative research programs, policy reforms, and community-engaged initiatives that integrate sustainability into heritage management.