Cape Town, South Africa – The UAE participated in the third meeting of the G20 Cultural Working Group, held under the theme “Solidarity, Equality, and Sustainability,” which was recently hosted by Cape Town, South Africa. The meeting aimed to enhance cultural cooperation among member states and highlight the importance of culture as a strategic tool for achieving sustainable development.
The country was represented at the meeting by a delegation from the Ministry of Culture headed by Shatha Al-Mulla, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the National Identity and Arts Sector. The meeting witnessed a series of discussion sessions that addressed the final document of the Cultural Working Group, “Achievements and Future Prospects,” with the participation of high-level representatives from G20 members and host countries, as well as international organizations such as the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
On the sidelines of the meeting, the UAE delegation participated in a high-level international symposium entitled “The Intersection between Culture and Climate”, which witnessed the participation of government leaders, experts, artists, innovators, technicians, and representatives of civil society from around the world, to explore how culture and creative industries contribute to adapting to climate change and promoting sustainability.
Discussions during the symposium focused on the role of culture, traditional knowledge and languages in climate action, the carbon footprint of the culture sector, and proposed solutions through the circular economy, in addition to highlighting African-led climate cultural initiatives, presenting global best practices in cultural climate policies, as well as contributing to shaping G20 policies on culture and climate.
During the third session, entitled “Integrating Culture into National Climate Policies”, the Ministry of Culture delegation reviewed the country’s experiences and best practices in integrating knowledge and cultural heritage into national climate strategies, as an extension of the UAE’s leadership role in sustainable development and climate innovation after hosting the Conference of the Parties (COP28).
The Ministry of Culture is scheduled to participate in the next preparatory meeting scheduled to be held next October in KwaZulu-Natal Governorate, in preparation for the meeting of G20 Ministers of Culture scheduled to be held on the 29th of the same month, to adopt the final statement of the Ministers of Culture before the G20 Leaders Summit is held on November 27 and 28 in Khwating Governorate, South Africa.
This participation comes within the framework of the UAE’s keenness to enhance its active presence in international platforms concerned with culture as a fundamental pillar in achieving sustainable development, and to invest it as a pivotal element in confronting climate challenges. This participation also embodies the confirmation of the country’s pioneering position in the fields of climate innovation and cultural sustainability, especially in light of its ambitious national strategy to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, and activate the role of culture in supporting climate action goals.
It is noteworthy that the UAE is participating in the summit for the fourth time in a row, having previously been invited to it in 2022, 2023 and 2024, in addition to its historic participation in the 2011 and 2020 editions.
