Representatives from the European Heritage Hub have returned from the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (COP29), held in Baku, Azerbaijan, from 11 to 22 November. Led by Andrew Potts, Heritage and Climate Action Advisor for Europa Nostra, the Hub joined a strong coalition of culture and heritage advocates calling for the inclusion of Culture-Based Climate Action in the final conclusions of the UN Climate Change Conference.
History was made last year at COP28 in Dubai, UAE. Exactly one month after the launch of the Global Call to put Culture at the Heart of Climate Action, the ‘Group of Friends of Culture-Based Climate Action’ was established at the first High-Level Ministerial Meeting on this topic. Over 30 Ministers or government representatives and a large delegation of committed cultural advocates from across the Globe attended the historic inaugural meeting, co-chaired by UAE and Brazil, recognising the key role of culture for transformative climate action.
The second High-Level Ministerial Meeting for Culture-Based Climate Action took place at COP29 on 15 November. HRH Princess Dana Firas of Jordan, Climate Heritage Network Special Envoy, gave a forceful speech on behalf of Civil Society, calling for a cultural workshop request included in the final decisions taken at COP29 – an essential step to pave the way towards the adoption of a Joint Work on Culture and Climate Action Decision at COP30 in Belem, Brazil, and achieving the ultimate goal of the Global Call Campaign: a UNFCCC Work Plan on Culture.
“Culture has enormous potential to accelerate and scale-up systemic transitions to limit temperature rise and achieve sustainable development. Yet it receives little attention compared to other enabling conditions, such as finance and technological innovation. This culture gap seriously undermines the effectiveness of Climate Action”, stated HRH Princess Dana Firas.
Europa Nostra and the European Heritage Hub consortium issued a forceful statement applauding the organisation of the 2nd High-Level Ministerial and calling for due inclusion of culture and cultural heritage in the final conclusions of COP29.
However, the negotiations were met with disappointment, as the final conclusions at COP29 excluded the request for the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies to hold one or more workshops on culture and heritage issues in 2025. Advocates managed to secure COP29’s single reference to culture in the highly contentious Mitigation Work Programme (MWP) decision, where the discussion on “cities: buildings and urban systems” notes the “need to tailor solutions to sociocultural and economic contexts.”
Our focus now shifts to next year’s COP30 in Brazil, as we continue our global and European mobilisation efforts.
Read the full report on outcomes and impressions from COP29 – Prepared by Andrew Potts, Heritage and Climate Action Advisor of Europa Nostra.
