Salamanca DeclarationA SUSTAINABLE FUTURE

FOR HISTORIC CITIES

Participants at the European Conference, "Energy, Transport and Telematics in HistoricCities" met in Salamanca on November 6th, 1998.

,W�LV�FRQVLGHUHG that the heritage of European historic cities is a basic element to sustainabledevelopment and emphasises its extraordinary social dimension.

,W� LV� UHFRJQLVHG that the transfer of the historic heritage to future generations faces newchallenges and risks which fundamentally derive from the present use of energy and transport.

7DNLQJ� LQWR� DFFRXQW the recommendations established by the various internationalconventions, such as, the World Heritage Convention, both Cultural and Natural, theConvention on Climatic Change, the recommendations of Habitat II and Europeandeclarations, such as, the Äalborg Charter on sustainable cities.

%HLQJ� FRQVFLRXV that historic cities and especially those which have been declared "WorldHeritage Sites" by UNESCO, are foci of attention for Europe and the world. As such, thesecities are exceptional mirrors from where new initiatives will have a multiplying effect.

&RQVLGHULQJ that the protection of cultural and natural heritage in historic centres does nothave to be in opposition to their functionality, quality of life and capacity to turn themselvesinto dynamic centres of society.

7DNLQJ�LQWR�DFFRXQW that is preferable for new initiatives�arising in historic cities be directedtowards specialised services, recognising that today these cities are, as a whole, the majortourist destinations in Europe and the world.

&RQILUPLQJ that today’s technology is such as to overcome problems stemming from energyuse and urban mobility.

Appeal to the various responsible municipalities and managers of the historic cities, to theauthorities, to the local, regional, governmental and intergovernmental institutions, as well asto the competent social agents, and ask:

1. To incorporate the sustainability criteria into energy use: efficiency, saving anddiversification.

2. To facilitate the maximum level of renewable energy sources participation into theenergy supply of historic cities.

3. To wisely adapt energy uses to available energy resources, considering energy as acity service.

4. To incorporate energy management into the instruments of city planning anddevelopment.

5. To promote action which will incorporate the criteria of sustainable urban mobilityin historic centres, emphasising solutions based on pedestrianisation and collectivetransport systems.

6. To incorporate zero and ultra-low emission technologies to urban transport, usingthe present possibilities offered by gas-propelled, hybrid and electric vehicles.

7. To use telematic instruments adequately with regard to the optimisation of energyuses, alternative transport and planning.

8. To establish integrated planning systems in the design of communication andelectric grids, in order to minimise impact on the built heritage.

9. To improve telematic solutions as an essential tool for citizens’ participation, forenergy and transport management and for cultural and natural heritage protection.

10. To introduce education, training and information programmes on renewable energysources and alternative transports.

11. To develop regulations as well as local, regional, national and E. C. legalframeworks which will facilitate the application of sustainable solutions on energy,transport and telematics for historic cities.

12. To promote co-ordination between various competent administrations in order tofacilitate the application of existing technological solutions regarding sustainableenergy and sustainable transport and to eliminate present barriers which areopposed to its implementation.

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