BAKU: The Group of Friends for Culture-Based Climate Action (GFCBCA) at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held a high-level Ministerial Dialogue at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan. This marked the second Ministerial Dialogue on Culture-Based Climate Action, following the inaugural meeting at COP28 in Dubai last year.
According to Emirates News Agency, the GFCBCA at UNFCCC was officially announced by its co-chairs, Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture, and Margareth Menezes, Minister of Culture of Brazil, during COP28. This coalition, which includes 40 countries and 25 intergovernmental agencies and organizations, advocates for recognizing the integral role of culture in climate change policies. It aims to generate political momentum for effective, cohesive, and coordinated global action, acknowledging the significance of culture and heritage in climate policies, plans, and initiatives.
Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi commented on the Ministerial Dialogue,
stating, “This High-Level Meeting is an opportunity to share insights, best practices, and innovative approaches to integrating culture into climate policies and programmes. We aim to establish a robust framework for collaborative action and foster an open exchange and partnership between the Global North and the Global South.”
The meeting aimed to build on the achievements of last year’s dialogue, fostering consensus on the role of culture in addressing climate change and accelerating global adaptation efforts. Ministers discussed implementing the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience (2/CMA.5), adopted at COP28, focusing on protecting cultural heritage from climate-related risks. The discussions highlighted how traditional knowledge systems can inform strategies for preserving cultural practices and heritage sites and enhance adaptation through climate-resilient infrastructure.
With a vision to promote culture as a tool for adaptation, the discussions included culturally driven policy initiatives to
be incorporated into National Adaptation Plans (NAP) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC). The coalition also addressed fostering diversity of cultural expressions by supporting vulnerable communities and enhancing research and innovation in the field.
The dialogue aimed to establish a clear framework for culture-based climate action, outlining guiding principles, goals, and expected outcomes for the initiative. It emphasized the need to enhance North-South and South-South exchanges by fostering knowledge sharing, capacity building, and collaboration between developed and developing nations to promote equitable climate solutions. Additionally, the importance of data collection and developing methodologies for measuring the impact of culture-based climate initiatives was highlighted.
