Cultural Heritage Protection and Low-Carbon Development in World Heritage Sites

Against the backdrop of global “carbon peaking and carbon neutrality” goals and the rapid development of the digital economy, World Heritage Sites (WHSs) face the triple mission of cultural inheritance, ecological protection, and low-carbon transition. These goals are inherently synergistic, yet existing research remains limited in assessment methods, cross-case comparison, mechanism integration, and policy relevance. Based on 17 core studies, this study constructs a framework of “methodological integration–empirical validation–mechanism construction–path optimization” to examine the synergy between heritage protection and low-carbon development in WHSs. It integrates screening methods, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), and spatial comparison models with digital economy indicators to build an ecological/carbon footprint assessment system tailored to WHSs. Using Huangshan, Taishan, Suzhou Pingjiang Road, and Gulangyu as cases, it verifies synergistic effects and identifies heterogeneous features through literature and field survey data. The study further proposes a four-dimensional synergistic mechanism of “cultural concept guidance–technical support–SME implementation–institutional guarantee” and advances optimization paths in cultural communication, technological innovation, agent cultivation, and institutional improvement. It provides both methodological support and practical reference for the sustainable development of WHSs.