Integrating Sustainable Development Goals with Historic Urban Landscape for Historic City Preservation: The Case of Tripoli, Lebanon

The main objective of this academic research has been to uncover the latent synergies between the ambitious Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Historic Urban Landscape (HUL)approach, advocating their merger as a powerful mechanism to foster the application of sustainable development principles to historic cities. In light of unprecedented urban expansion, the sustainable development of cities, including their historical cores, has become a global imperative. Envisioning a future where sustainability and heritage preservation coexist harmoniously, this doctoral thesis advocates for the seamless integration of culture and cultural heritage into urban development strategies. Against the backdrop of Agenda 2030 and its ambitious  SDGs, the objective of the thesis is to establish a profound connection between these global objectives and the HUL approach. This connection contributes to a comprehensive approach to urban development that not only advances sustainability but also safeguards the irreplaceable cultural richness of historic urban areas. 

In order to achieve transformative integration, it is imperative to gain a deep insight of the intricate dimensions of both the SDGs and the HUL approach. This understanding serves as the foundation for proposing a methodology derived from a multidisciplinary analysis of both systems, fostering a comprehensive grasp of them by systematically assessing their intersections and synergies. This process enables the forging of a unified strategy for sustainable historic urban development. In addition, the methodology includes the identification and articulation of challenges inherent to the merging of the SDGs and HUL principles, with the aim of finding optimal strategies to localise and implement them, taking advantage of available tools and resources.     
Recognizing the unique challenges and opportunities inherent to each historic city, this research does not seek to offer a one-size-fits-all solution for their sustainable development. Rather, it aims to tackle the broader complexities specific to the case of Tripoli, Lebanon, through the proposed methodology. Through this case study, it seeks to illustrate the tangible potential for synergy between the SDGs and the HUL approach, bridging the gap between theory and practical application.