His Excellency Shaikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture, emphasized the UAE’s commitment to integrating culture into sustainable development and climate action at the G20 Culture Ministers’ Meeting, which took place on November 8, 2024, in Salvador, Di Bahia, Brazil.

Addressing the meeting, His Excellency said that the UAE has been galvanizing global cooperation to mainstream culture as a key enabler of sustainable development. He also stressed the UAE’s leading role in promoting a culture of climate action and as a lever for inclusive and equitable economic growth.

His Excellency said: “Culture not only preserves heritage but also provides innovative solutions to complex global issues, including climate change. As we face an evolving climate, culture strengthens our resilience against these challenges.”

His Excellency pointed out the UAE and Brazil’s joint efforts in creating the Group of Friends for Culture-Based Climate Action (GFCBCA) and the support the group has received since its launch at COP28 last year.

“This coalition symbolises our dedication to addressing climate challenges through a cultural lens, and we are grateful to the many partners who have joined this mission. We are especially proud that both the UAE Framework for Global Climate Resilience and the Group of Friends for Culture-Based Climate Action (GFCBCA) were included in the declaration, highlighting the importance of integrating cultural and resilient approaches to climate action on a global scale.”

His Excellency also pointed out that measuring the contribution of the cultural and creative industries is of utmost importance as it is essential to tailor regulations and incentives that nurture the creative sector. “Data insights reveal emerging trends, consumer preferences, and areas for innovation.” He stressed.

His Excellency added: “By consistently measuring the cultural and creative industries, stakeholders can better understand their multifaceted contributions, advocate for resources, and sustain their development in a global economy. We are working with global partners to bolster mechanisms to collect data from the creative sector and leverage it to guide the future direction of CCI.”

“Our dedication to nurturing creativity is not only about economic growth but about securing the legacy and identity of our communities for generations to come,” His Excellency stated.

Culture Working Group

A delegation from the Ministry of Culture actively participated in the fourth Culture Working Group (CWG) meeting from November 4 to 7, 2024. The UAE contributed to discussions on four priority areas: Protection and Restitution of Cultural Property, Harnessing Living Heritage for a Sustainable Future, Promotion of Cultural and Creative Industries, and Leveraging Digital Technologies for Culture, all of which informed the G20 Culture Ministers’ Declaration.

By focusing discussions on culture in the four topics above, the countries gathered in the G20 Culture Working Group will be able to deepen their understanding of the challenges and possibilities of culture in a constantly changing world. The panels were designed to provide countries with the means to improve their public policies and national actions.

The CWG discussions are expected to foster new degrees of understanding and partnerships between countries, advancing principles such as promoting peace, sustainable and inclusive development, dialogue, and common understanding for the benefit of all.

This year, the G20 Summit, under the Brazilian Presidency, is hosting heads of member states and guest countries under the overarching theme of ‘Building a Just World and a Sustainable Planet.’ The UAE is participating as a guest for the third consecutive year with a special invitation from the Brazilian presidency. Previously, the UAE participated as a guest at the 2023 meetings under the Indian presidency, the 2022 meetings under the Indonesian presidency, and the 2020 meetings under the Saudi Arabia presidency. In 2011, the UAE participated in the G20 meetings as a guest invited by the French Presidency.