UAE Minister of Culture Highlights Culture’s Role in Climate Action and Sustainable Development at G20 Meeting

His Excellency Shaikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, UAE Minister of Culture, reinforced the UAE’s commitment to integrating culture into climate action and sustainable development at the G20 Culture Ministers’ Meeting held on November 8 in Salvador, Brazil. His Excellency emphasized the UAE's global leadership in promoting culture as a vital enabler of inclusive economic growth and resilience against climate challenges.

Speaking at the meeting, Al Qassimi highlighted the UAE's collaborative work with Brazil in founding the "Group of Friends for Culture-Based Climate Action" (GFCBCA), launched at COP28, which unites partners in addressing climate issues through cultural initiatives. “This coalition reflects our commitment to climate resilience through cultural perspectives,” he said, underscoring the GFCBCA’s inclusion in the G20 declaration as a testament to the importance of cultural integration in global climate strategies.

Al Qassimi also stressed the need to measure the economic and social contributions of the cultural and creative industries (CCI), which provide essential data to inform regulations and incentivize sector growth. "Our dedication to nurturing creativity is about securing the legacy and identity of our communities for generations to come,” he added, underscoring culture’s pivotal role in shaping a sustainable future.