UAE Participates In G20 Culture Working Group Meeting To Promote Cultural Collaboration And Sustainability

The UAE, through its Ministry of Culture, took part in the fourth G20 Culture Working Group (CWG) Ministerial Meeting held in Zimbali, KwaDukuza, South Africa. The meeting aimed to strengthen cultural ties among member states and highlight culture's importance as a strategic driver for sustainable development.

Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, the Minister of Culture, led the UAE delegation. The meeting saw the adoption of the KwaDukuza Declaration by G20 Ministers of Culture. Participants included culture ministers and senior representatives from G20 nations and guest countries, alongside international organisations like UNESCO and INTERPOL.

Al Qassimi stressed that culture is essential for sustainable development, fostering solidarity and resilience. He highlighted the need to boost culture’s contribution to the global economy while protecting those within the creative ecosystem. He also reaffirmed culture's fundamental role in global policy.

The declaration positions culture as a dynamic catalyst for achieving Sustainable Development Goals. "This includes reinforcing international cooperation in culture-based climate action, the creative economy, and in safeguarding heritage worldwide," Al Qassimi stated.

The UAE’s involvement underscores its dedication to enhancing its role on international cultural platforms. It recognises culture as a powerful catalyst for sustainable development and a key contributor to addressing environmental, social, and economic challenges.

This participation reflects the UAE’s leadership in cultural and creative economy initiatives aligned with its national strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The nation aims to leverage culture as a key enabler of climate-action objectives.

Intersection of Culture and Climate Change

The ministers’ declaration highlights the crucial link between culture and climate change. It emphasises protecting cultural heritage and preserving Indigenous Peoples’ knowledge systems amid climate challenges. Culture plays a significant role in climate mitigation, adaptation, and biodiversity conservation.

The declaration acknowledges the UAE’s leadership through initiatives like the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience at COP28. This framework targets protecting cultural heritage from climate-related risks.

Advancing Culture-Based Climate Strategies

The UAE-Belém Work Programme on indicators and establishing the Group of Friends of Culture-Based Climate Action (GFCBCA) further demonstrate commitment to advancing culture-based climate strategies. The declaration calls for enhanced cooperation on knowledge building and refining cultural heritage protection indicators.

This marks the UAE’s fourth consecutive participation in the G20 CWG since 2022, including previous involvements in 2011 and 2020. The nation continues to play a pivotal role in integrating culture into global climate resilience efforts.

With inputs from WAM