Cultural Heritage, Sustainable Development, and Climate Policy: Comparing the UNESCO World Heritage Cities of Potsdam and Bern

Historic city centers, while presenting challenges due to legal constraints on building modifications, also offer unique opportunities for sustainable urban development. A comparative study of the UNESCO World Heritage cities of Potsdam (Germany) and Bern (Switzerland) reveals that their shared characteristics—such as resistance to modern urbanization and functional city concepts—can facilitate innovative climate policies. Despite national differences, both cities leverage tools like referenda and citizen participation to drive sustainability. Potsdam leads in institutionalizing climate mitigation and adaptation, while Bern serves as a role model for stakeholders. The study identifies transferable innovations, such as Potsdam’s integrative climate policy, and highlights the potential for collaboration between matching cities to balance heritage management with climate governance.

Kern, K., Irmisch, J., Odermatt, C., Haupt, W., & Kissling-Näf, I. (2021). Cultural Heritage, Sustainable Development, and Climate Policy: Comparing the UNESCO World Heritage Cities of Potsdam and Bern. Sustainability, 13(16), 9131. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13169131