According to UNESCO 1 in 6 heritage sites are threatened by Climate Change. For both impact & solutions, heritage must be taken into account in climate policy & planning. Last week, together with partners across the globe, as one of the founding signatories, we launched a Global Call to Action urging the UN Climate Change Convention (UNFCCC) to put cultural heritage, arts, and creative industries at the heart of climate action.
The Call to Action aims to appeal for a ground-breaking ‘Joint Work on Culture and Climate Action’ decision at the UN Climate ConferenceCOP28, set to take place in Dubai from 30 November to 12 December. A Joint Work is a recognised process by which national governments can request the UN climate agency to jointly address a critical gap issue – in this case the intersections of culture and climate action. It would pave the way for the implementation of a landmark new UN work plan on culture, heritage, and climate action at next year’s UN Climate Conference (COP29).
The European Heritage Hub is leading the campaign in Europe. The draft Call to Action itself was launched and workshopped during the European Heritage Hub Forum ‘Reimagining the Anthropocene: Putting Culture and Heritage at the Heart of Climate’, which took place in September 2023 in Venice.
The Call to Action is now open to the public.