Landmark launch for Culture Based Climate Action at COP28

On 8 December 2023, IIC attended the live stream of a landmark High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on Culture Based Climate Action that took place at the UN climate conference, COP28 in Dubai. Co-chaired by Ministers of Culture Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, and Margareth Menezes (Brazil), over 20 Ministers from all regions of the world, committed to placing culture as a critical vector of climate action, launching a new Group of Friends of Culture-Based Climate Action (GFCBCA).

The main goals of the international coalition can be viewed in full here, and include:

  • A Group of Friends of Culture-Based Climate Action (GFCBCA), an international coalition of UN Member States, formed to confront the threat climate change poses to cultural sites, traditional practices, and indigenous knowledge systems. 
  • Co-chairs of the United Arab Emirates and Brazil (hosts of the COP28 and COP30) will promote international consensus on the urgency of including culture in climate change policy for unprecedented inclusivity in global climate action.
  • As a coalition, countries seek to advocate for culture-based solutions to climate crisis at COP28 and to provide a voice in climate discussion for behaviour change. 

IIC is one of the founding signatories to the global call to the UNFCCC to put cultural heritage, arts and creative sectors at the heart of climate action. Nearly 1,500 organisations and individuals have now signed the call.  As a powerful force shaping our lives, culture has the potential to help us imagine and realise low-carbon, just, climate resilient futures - you can add your support to the campaign here. The campaign calls for the adoption of a Joint Work Decision on Culture and Climate Action at COP29 next year, that would lead to the adoption at COP30 in Brazil of a groundbreaking work plan for culture at the UN. This campaign is part of an initiative funded by the UAE Ministry of Culture in partnership with the ALIPH Foundation.