Indonesia urges UNESCO to safeguard cultural heritage from AI and climate threats

Speaking at the 220th UNESCO Executive Board session in Paris, Indonesia’s deputy permanent delegate I.G.A.K. Satrya Wibawa cautioned that while digital technologies can aid heritage preservation, artificial intelligence must not erode the identities of the communities that create them. He warned of challenges to authenticity, intellectual-property rights and cultural diversity, and advocated a human-centric “living museum” model that keeps traditions active, citing Bali’s Subak irrigation system and the Sasi coastal conservation in Maluku as examples linking indigenous knowledge to sustainability.

Satrya urged UNESCO to help developing countries craft climate-resilient cultural policies and to move beyond statements toward tangible support such as capacity-building, technical assistance, direct funding and knowledge transfer. He also pressed for improved gender parity and equitable geographic representation within UNESCO, with diplomat Sasi Hemawardhani proposing targeted recruitment for under-represented nations.