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COP29 | Countries Unite to Harness Culture for Climate Action
Led by the COP Presidencies Troika – the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, and Brazil, Presidencies of COP28, COP29, and COP30, respectively – the United Arab Emirates captured the important message of the “climate emergency being a cultural emergency”, emphasizing the profound impact of climate change on communities, livelihoods, and cultures globally. The UAE also stressed that culture can act as a catalyst for climate solutions. Combining various knowledge systems with climate science, countries called for an integrated approach to climate resilience and urged the international community to take decisive action to protect both cultural heritage and the environment.
A pivotal aspect of the Dialogue was the role of UNESCO as the Lead Knowledge Partner, supporting discussions on the integration of culture in climate action. The expertise and leadership of UNESCO in preserving cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible, were instrumental in supporting discussions that underscored the urgent need to protect cultural heritage from the devastating impacts of climate change. The active involvement of the Organization also highlighted the importance of leveraging cultural knowledge and practices to help communities and countries across all scales of climate action, including adapting to climate change, building resilience, and instilling behavioral change.
The launch of the Group of Friends of Culture-Based Climate Action (GFCBCA) at COP28 in 2023 was a significant milestone, with new countries joining the initiative and connecting the trajectory from COP28 towards COP30 in 2025. This year, several countries emphasized the importance of sustaining this Dialogue and cooperation on embedding cultural considerations in climate action, including in the field of greening the sector, especially in consideration of the power of culture in shifting mindsets as well as shaping public attitudes and behaviors towards sustainability. Discussions also focused on the role of culture in shaping public attitudes and behaviors toward sustainability. In this regard, cultural practitioners were recognized as influential advocates for climate action, with their ability to inspire behavioral change and foster respect for the environment.
The Dialogue concluded with the adoption of the Terms of Reference for the GFCBCA, establishing the operational framework of the Group. This framework outlines the broad scope and goal of the Group, membership principles, working modalities, and collaborative effort of over 40 parties and 25 knowledge partners, including UNESCO. The consensus marks an importantstep forward towards the global advocacy on the role of culture for climate action at the multilateral level. In addition to international-level efforts, Ministers also called for the mainstreaming of culture-based climate action in national climate policies, highlighting the importance of recognizing the central role of cultural heritage and the creative industries in sustainable development. The Dialogue further emphasized the need for enhanced inter-ministerial dialogue and cooperation, particularly in aligning cultural and climate agendas within national adaptation plans (NAPs), nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and other related climate policies.
The Communiqué from the second High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on Culture-Based Climate Action (GFCBCA) calls for intensified climate action and scaled-up international collaboration, particularly in embedding cultural perspectives into the global climate agenda. As countries look toward COP30, the outcomes of the Dialogue will serve as a vital momentum for advancing culture-based climate action. The Communiqué also expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Culture of Azerbaijan for hosting the meeting and welcomed the launch of the “Culture for Climate” (C4C) initiative, which supports ongoing efforts to integrate culture into climate action. Finally, it was agreed that the next High-Level Ministerial Dialogue would take place under Brazil’s presidency at COP30 in 2025, to assess new developments and challenges related to the culture-climate nexus.
