Call to Action
A global call to the UNFCCC to include cultural heritage, the arts and creative sectors in climate policy
Cultural voices from across the world are uniting. Together, we're asking national governments' climate negotiators who assemble at UN Climate Conferences (known as COPs) to make decisions that put cultural heritage, arts and creative sectors at the heart of climate action. We invite you to join us.
Culture is a powerful force that shapes all of our lives, wherever we are in the world. Culture-led solutions that are inclusive, local as well as global, and focused on people and nature are already abundant. Yet in spite of this potential, culture has not been recognised in climate policy and planning.
Cultural heritage, including traditional knowledge, strengthens resilience, and helps communities to adapt to climate impacts. It protects places, and offers green, circular and regenerative solutions. The arts speak to hearts and minds, inspiring action and helping us to understand climate change through storytelling and shared experiences. The creative industries - design, music, fashion and film - shape our lifestyles, tastes and consumption patterns.
We are asking climate negotiators at COP29 to take the first steps towards a ground-breaking ‘Joint Work Decision on Culture and Climate Action’. This is a UN process that will trigger research that can inform climate policies and frameworks. The Joint Work Decision would in turn be the basis for the first-ever UN Work Plan on Culture-Based Climate Action, ensuring that culture’s potential is recognised and understood and allowing it to fully contribute to the climate solutions we so urgently need.
To strengthen global climate action, we must make use of culture’s extraordinary power to help people imagine and realise low-carbon, just, climate resilient futures.
If you recognise culture’s power to unlock climate action, join our global call to the COP to put culture at the heart of climate policy.
Government representatives attend the High Level Ministerial meeting held on 8/12/23 at COP28Group of Friends of Culture-Based Climate Action
Over 30 national governments have joined the Group of Friends of Culture-Based Climate Action. Formed at COP28 in Dubai, the group is co-chaired by Culture ministers of Brazil and UAE.
This international coalition of UNFCCC Member States is building political momentum for effective, coherent and coordinated action to support and advocate for culture and heritage-based climate action.
Family photo - Global Call to Action Steering CommitteeWhy a ‘Joint Work Decision’?
We are asking for a ground-breaking decision by the COP requesting a ‘Joint Work on Culture and Climate Action’. A ‘Joint Work’ is a consultation and information gathering process undertaken by the UN Climate agency’s scientific, technical and implementation bodies. This would begin the process to advance discussions on the role of culture in the work of the UN’s Climate Change agency known as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The Joint Work process can help ensure that culture’s potential is recognised and understood, allowing it to contribute to the climate solutions we so urgently need.
Who can sign up?
Anyone can join the Global Call Campaign by signing the Call to Action. The campaign is for everyone who cares about empowering cultural voices, actors and sectors in the fight against climate change.
Everyone in the cultural, heritage, and arts and entertainment sectors: from artists and creatives, cultural institutions, units of government at all levels, SMEs and design firms, organisations, universities and educational institutions, and Indigenous Peoples’ organisations, to individuals. It also includes environment and climate activists who recognise that addressing the cultural dimensions of the climate crisis are critical to getting the world back on track to meeting Paris Agreement targets.
Read the full call to action document below.
Read the full Call to Action
Thanks to the support of ALIPH
Who is Behind the Global Call?
This campaign is supported by a diverse worldwide coalition.
Coordination of the Campaign is provided within the framework of the Climate Heritage Network with a Campaign Leadership Team consisting of HRH Princess Dana Firas Petra National Trust who serves as the CHN Envoy to the High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on Culture-Based Climate Action, as well as: Sneška Quaedvlieg-Mihailovic, Europa Nostra; Andrew Potts, Climate Heritage Network/ European Heritage Hub; and Alison Tickell and Thiago Jesus of Julie’s Bicycle, a leading not-for-profit mobilising the arts and culture to take action on the climate, nature and justice crisis, provides the secretariat for the Campaign.
Who has joined the Call to Action?
We now have over 2,000 signatories, alongside our 78 founding signatories. These include many leading voices in culture from across the globe, from The International Council of Museums and International Council on Monuments and Sites, to United Cities and Local governments and The Union of Concerned Scientists and more.
Social media toolkit: share the Global Call to Action with your networks
Help us spread the word! We’ve prepared a toolkit with some suggested text and graphics that you can use to show your support for this campaign.
If you are going to COP29 and representing culture and heritage, we have also prepared some graphics that you can use to incorporate into your own designs to highlight culture @ COP!