Culture ministers of Azerbaijan, UAE, and Brazil convene in St. Petersburg to plan COP29 initiatives

The Culture Ministers of Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Brazil, representing the presidencies of COP29, COP28, and COP30 respectively, held a trilateral meeting in St. Petersburg on September 12.

The meeting aimed to outline the programme and format for the Second High-Level Meeting of Culture Ministers during COP29, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

the purpose of the meeting was to outline the program and format of the Second High-Level Meeting of Culture Ministers, which is set to take place during COP29. In attendance were Azerbaijani Culture Minister Adil Kerimli, UAE Culture Minister Salim Bin Khalid Al Qassimi, and Brazilian Culture Minister Margaret Menezes.

The discussion builds on previous initiatives, notably the growing recognition of culture's role in climate action since COP27, which took place in Sharm el Sheikh. During COP28 in Dubai, co-chaired by the UAE and Brazil, the "Emirates Declaration on Culture-Based Climate Action" was adopted. This declaration emphasized the importance of cultural contributions to transformative climate action. The First High-Level Meeting of Culture Ministers followed, where over 30 ministers, alongside government officials and representatives of international organizations, gathered to discuss the intersection of culture and climate efforts.

Azerbaijan has been actively promoting this agenda on the global stage, reinforcing the critical role of culture in addressing climate challenges. As part of these efforts, Azerbaijan hosted a special plenary session on culture and climate at the VI World Forum of Intercultural Dialogue from 1 to 3 May, attracting some of the world’s leading experts on heritage and climate change.

The ministers from Brazil and the UAE expressed their gratitude to Azerbaijan for its ongoing attention to cultural matters related to climate and for helping to elevate these issues in the international arena. Both ministers also took the opportunity to review preparations for COP29, which will be held in Baku. They praised the efforts underway and expressed confidence that COP29 would be a standout event, distinguishing itself from previous COP meetings.

The discussions also covered potential side events and initiatives, including cultural performances, concerts, and other shows, which are expected to enrich the COP29 experience and highlight the role of the arts in climate action.

In closing, the ministers agreed on the importance of continuing collaboration and emphasized the need for a unified approach to promoting culture as a vital tool for global climate response.