Heritage‐Sensitive Low‐Carbon Urban Development Through SDG ‐Linked Sustainable Policy Prioritization

ABSTRACT Chinese cities face the challenge of accelerating the low‐carbon transition while preserving cultural identity, spatial quality, and social sustainability in heritage‐sensitive areas. This study develops a decision‐support framework aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to prioritize strategies integrating cultural heritage preservation, renewable energy, and sustainable urban development under uncertainty. The Fuzzy Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied to determine the relative importance of the criteria and sub‐criteria, while Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS)‐Grey analysis was used to rank the proposed strategies based on expert judgments. The findings of Fuzzy AHP identified Urban Aesthetics as the most important main criterion, followed by Renewable Energy Integration and Preservation of Historic Sites. The TOPSIS‐Grey results indicate that Renewable Energy Integration and Cultural Landmarks is the highest priority, demonstrating the importance of incorporating clean‐energy technologies into heritage sites without compromising their architectural and cultural significance. Sustainable Urban Design and Cultural Districts ranks second, emphasizing pedestrian‐friendly streets, green infrastructure, energy‐efficient public spaces, and district‐level cultural identity. Historical Building Preservation and Green Design ranks third, highlighting the value of combining building conservation with environmentally responsible materials and energy‐efficient technologies. The results indicate that integrated strategies should be prioritized in heritage‐oriented low‐carbon development. The study links SDGs 11.4, 7, and 13 within a unified urban‐governance framework and translates broad sustainability goals into practical policy priorities for Chinese cities and districts.