The International Seminar on Culture and Climate Change took place from 4 to 5 November 2024, as part of the G20 meetings in Salvador da Bahia, Brazil. The seminar provided a global stage for the European Heritage Hub project to demonstrate the fundamental role of culture and cultural heritage in addressing climate change. The discussion highlighted innovative responses of culture in climate action, while exploring ways to support the cultural sector in creating an inclusive and sustainable future, as advocated for in our Global Call for Culture-Based Climate Action. The European Heritage Hub was represented by Cristina Garzillo, Head of Built Environment, Culture and Heritage at ICLEI, a co-beneficiary of the Hub.
Organised by the Ministry of Culture of Brazil and supported by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Organisation of Ibero-American States (OEI) , the event spotlighted national and international experiences of culture-based climate action.
“This effort requires a new awareness of the human role, recovering our memory of affection and responsibility in our relationship with the environment. We need to touch hearts and minds, as it is up to each of us to be an agent promoting this change in behaviour and thinking”, stated Margareth Menez, Minister of Culture of Brazil.
The seminar also featured opening remarks from the Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, and the Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Sônia Guajajara.
Over two days, participants engaged in 11 interactive panels on various themes including the establishment of environmentally responsible cultural sectors, the economic and non-economic costs of climate change on culture and heritage, and the role of arts and culture in creating new visions. A specific panel on ‘Culture shaping urban resilience’ explored how cultural practices and institutions play a pivotal role in building more sustainable, digital and inclusive cities, in line with Hub’s goals of triple transformation – green, digital and social.
Outcomes from the G20 Ministerial Meeting on Culture
Shortly after the Seminar, on 11 November, the G20 Ministers of Culture adopted a forceful Declaration on ‘Culture as a pillar for a new international paradigm‘. In an unprecedented move the joint Declaration acknowledged the need to integrate considerations relating to cultural heritage, arts and creative industries into national climate adaptation plans and mitigation strategies, in view of the urgent need to promote a strengthened global action to address the challenges posed by climate change to culture.
The Declaration is the final ministerial declaration to be approved before the Leaders’ Summit, which will take place from 18 to 20 November in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
