Environmental emergency, sustainability, technological innovation and cultural awareness: the contemporary “challenges” of the cultural heritage sector

The essay examines the challenges faced by the Cultural Heritage sector in light of the new environmental demands of the early 21st century. It explores the complex interplay between sustainability and heritage conservation, emphasizing the role of industrial heritage as fertile ground for developing sustainable strategies that integrate conservation with innovation. The chapter advocates the need to reconcile environmental and cultural awareness by considering heritage as an active resource for future generations and a key element in the transition to a sustainable, energy-efficient society.