From April 10–11, 2025, the city of Katowice, Poland, hosted the next chapter in a vital European conversation: the “European Coal and Steel Heritage” conference. This event, built on the foundation laid during the preceding 2023 conference, “Industrial Heritage in the Heart of Green Europe”, where the focus was placed on protecting technical cultural monuments—especially those connected to the history and use of fossil fuels.
This year’s gathering went further, offering a dynamic platform to outline concrete steps toward safeguarding our industrial past, while aligning it with modern sustainability goals. At the heart of the discussions was a simple but powerful idea: mining sites and former industrial facilities aren’t just relics—they are living testimonies of the industrial revolution.
One major theme was how to preserve and reuse these spaces responsibly, ensuring they retain their historical significance while reducing their carbon footprint. Another was the urgent need to support education, youth engagement, and limited fossil fuel availability for museums and technical heritage organizations that continue to operate vehicles and machinery from earlier eras.
A New Era: Introducing TICCIH Europe
One of the most important outcomes of the conference was the formal decision to create TICCIH Europe—a dedicated regional branch of the International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage (TICCIH). With its legal seat to be established in Poland, TICCIH Europe will function under the guidance of the global TICCIH body. Its official presentation will take place this August, during the TICCIH World Congress in Kiruna, Sweden, and a founding assembly is planned for autumn 2025 or early 2026.
This new organization is set to play a key role in supporting the Working Industrial & Mobile Heritage Platform (WIMH) and advocating for key resources—especially the controlled availability of heritage fossil fuels that are essential for maintaining operational authenticity in historic vehicles and industrial equipment.
FIVA’s Voice: Preserving More Than Vehicles
Representing the world of historic vehicles, FIVA (Fédération Internationale des Véhicules Anciens) brought a unique perspective to the conference. Marcello Bodini, member of the FIVA Youth Working Group, participated in the discussions and highlighted FIVA’s core message: to protect a historic vehicle, you must protect its entire story. This means:
- Preserving the vehicle itself, maintaining its originality and function.
- Recognizing its impact on society and culture.
- Safeguarding its industrial and technical context, including parts, skills, and know-how.
FIVA also reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable solutions that enable the continued use of historic vehicles—supporting innovation while ensuring authenticity. Education plays a vital role in this mission, with FIVA promoting the idea of the historic vehicle as a “museum on wheels”, offering a tangible, mobile way to learn about our collective past.
Looking Forward: A Shared European Mission
The Katowice conference confirmed a growing consensus: industrial heritage is not just about preserving the past—it’s about shaping a sustainable, informed, and inclusive future. With over 2,300 industrial heritage sites listed on the European Route of Industrial Heritage (ERIH), and successful examples of adaptive reuse from.Liverpool to Łódź[rs1] , there’s no shortage of inspiration.
The conference brought together ideas, people, and institutions ready to work across borders. As we move toward greener futures, this collaborative energy will be key to ensuring that Europe’s industrial legacy remains visible, functional, and meaningful—for generations to come.
Text: Marcello Bodini
Photo Credit: Lubera Marcin