Climate Heritage Network

CALL TO ACTION IN THE CONTEXT OF COP 28

The Climate Heritage Network has recently launched a global call to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Action (UNFCCC) to include cultural heritage, the arts and creative sectors in climate policy towards COP 28. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MANIFESTO ON CULTURE AND CLIMATE TOWARDS COP 27

As part of the network and co-leader of the CHN Working Group 5, and among various other strategic activities aiming at amplifying arts, culture and heritage voices in and around COP27, the UCLG Committee on Culture has co-elaborated, together with other partners, a Manifesto, in line with the Manifesto elaborated in the context of COP26 (Glasgow, 2021). 

The Manifesto, entitled "Imagining and Realising Climate Resilient Futures: The Power of Arts, Culture and Heritage to Accelerate Climate Action", is available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Arabic. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

#RESILIART x #MONDIACULT 2022

The Climate Heritage Network has organised, in collaboration with the UCLG Committee on Culture and the #culture2030goal campaign, and with the support of Europa Nostra, a #Resiliart event towards UNESCO Mondiacult Global Conference to be organised in Mexico City in next September 2022.

More information on this specific session, entitled "Cultural infrastructures as Drivers of people-centered climate action: A ResiliArt Debate for UNESCO Mondiacult2022" can be found here.

The video recording of the session is available here.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

THE ROLE OF CULTURE IN CLIMATE RESILIENT DEVELOPMENT

The Committee on Culture of UCLG has been working on a report entitled 'The Role of  Culture in Climate Resilient Development', in close collaboration with the Climate Heritage Network Working Group 5. 

This research work has been led by Andrew Potts, coordinator of the Climate Heritage Network. The report is an attempt to document the initiatives of cities and local or regional governments from all continents on cultural policies, sustainable cities and climate resilient development. It includes a diverse pack of case studies from all across the world and addressing the whole set of the 2030 Agenda Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It is informed by UCLG and UCLG Culture Committee policy documents and resources, and by contributions of UCLG members and consultation mechanisms, as well as the CHN’s Working Group 5, on the latest elements of the international debate on Climate Resilient Development.

A draft report has been presented at the 4^th UCLG Culture Summit in Izmir organised in Izmir (Turkey) on 9-11 September 2021, and the final report will be launched at the 2021 United Nations Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

CULTURE AT #COP26

From 1-12 November 2021, Climate actors, international partners, national. regional and local governments as well as experts, activists, academics, the private sector and all actors involved in Climate Action will gather in Glasgow for the United Nations International Climate Conference 2021, also known as COP26.

We, Committee on Culture of UCLG, together with the Climate Heritage network, will be at COP26 advocating for the voice of cultural actors to be heard and for their role as key players in Climate Action to be recognised at all levels. We will take part in the following sessions:

       -  Session 'Climate Heritage Network General Annual General Assembly' 
          1 November 2021, 12.45-15.45 CET

       -  Session 'A Culture of Resilience: Launch of the Climate Heritage Network Race to Resilience Campaign'
          2 November 2021, 14.15-15.45 CET

       -  Session 'Culture Driving Climate Resilient Futures: An Intergenerational Dialogue' 
          5 November 2021, 11.00-12.15 CET

       -  Session 'Culture as a Pathway to Climate Resilience and Sustainable Development'
          5 November 2021, 16.00-17.30 CET

See below for more information on the sessions and how to register. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

MANIFESTO

Towards the 2021 United Nations Climate Conference (COP26), the Climate Heritage Network released the Manifesto Culture At COP26 'Accelerating Climate Action through the power of Arts, Culture and Heritage. A Manifesto on Keeping 1,5º Alive'.

The Manifesto seeks to activate those involved in arts, culture, and heritage to take climate action through communication and engagement, inspiring and assisting their constituents, members and audiences to increase ambition; to change their own behaviours; and to engage with climate change policy development at local and national government and intergovernmental level. 

We invite you to join and sign the Manifesto.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

OTHER 

In 2021, the Committee on Culture of UCLG is part of the CHN Working Group 5 on "Using Culture to Promote Climate Resilient Sustainable Development". In this context, the Committee commissioned the elaboration of a report on "The Role of Culture in Climate Resilient Development" aiming at providing ground breaking policy evidence for the role culture and heritage can play in integrating the sustainable development and climate action agendas.

This research work will be led by Andrew Potts, coordinator of the Climate Heritage Network – CHN. The report will be informed by UCLG and UCLG Culture Committee policy documents and resources, and by contributions of UCLG members and consultation mechanisms, as well as the CHN’s Working Group 5, on the latest elements of the international debate on Climate Resilient Development. A draft report will be presented at the 4^th UCLG Culture Summit in Izmir to be organised in Izmir (Turkey) on next 9-11 September 2021, and the 2021 United Nations Climate Conference (COP26) in Glasgow.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

BACKGROUND

On 24-25 October 2019, the Network was officially launched on the occasion of the Climate Heritage Network Global Launch, in Edinburgh.

On 4-13 December 2019, the Climate Heritage Network was at COP25 in Madrid for two side-events:

           #ClimateHeritage: Mobilizing the culture and heritage sectors for climate action

           Introducing the Climate Heritage Network and the Madrid-to-Glasgow Arts, Culture and
           Heritage Climate Action Plan

On 13 October 2020, the Climate Heritage Network, together with other key partners, co-organized a side-event on "Cities, Climate and Culture: The Urban Research Agenda in the Upcoming IPCC Co-Sponsored Expert Meeting on Culture, Heritage and Climate Change", as part of ICLEI #DaringCities 2020 programme, with the participation of the Committee on Culture among the speakers.

More information here.

On 27 October 2020 (2:00-4:30PM CET), the Climate Heritage Network, together with other key partners, co-organized the parallel session "Showcasing exemplary local climate action by city and regional arts, culture and heritage offices mobilizing to meet the climate emergency", as part of ICLEI #DaringCities 2020 programme, with the participation of the Committee on Culture among the facilitators.

More information here.

Cities, regions, universities, and organizations still can join by signing or endorsing the Climate Heritage Network MoU (Memorandum of Understanding).