UNFCCC / PCCB: Culture Heritage and Arts Thematic Day
Culture Heritage and Arts Day
Hosted by: UNFCCC, Paris Committee on Capacity Building
Lead-Partner: The Convergence & E+C Pavilion
Date: November 18th
Time: 12:30 - 19:30
Location: COP30, Capacity Building Hub (Map Reference)
Room: Special Events Room 5, Tapajó
Hub Concept Note: Link
Why
In line with COP30’s Global Ethical Stocktake, this thematic day builds on the understanding that culture and heritage are an intrinsic component of climate action yet remain underutilized in climate policies and practice. Whilst cultural practices, storytelling, and Indigenous knowledge systems foster behavioral change, build community resilience, and inform context-specific climate solutions, the arts also serve as powerful vehicles for communicating climate impacts and good practices. This day examines how to boost capacity for the systemic integration of the cultural and creative dimension into climate planning and implementation, as well as how to better articulate the case for it in climate action.
How
Through high-level dialogues, community-driven exchanges and scalable case studies, the day will focus on four key areas:
Policy integration: Embedding cultural heritage and the creative sector into climate strategies at all levels, including NDCs and NAPs, ensuring adaptation measures are culturally sensitive and support resilience planning.
Capacity Building and resource mobilization: Mobilizing funding and resources for culture-based climate solutions and heritage preservation, supporting resilience that aligns with local traditions and practices.
Heritage and storytelling: Showcasing how Indigenous Peoples and local communities transmit knowledge and preserve cultural heritage, while harnessing these lessons to inspire resilient practices and inform climate adaptation beyond local contexts.
Arts and creative expression: Harnessing the power of diverse artistic mediums - visual arts, performance, music, photography, digital storytelling - to mobilize communities, inspire action, and make climate risks tangible,
Session 1: Building capacity through Policy for culture-based climate action
12:30–13:45 (75 Minutes)
This session explores how cultural heritage and the creative sector can be systematically integrated into climate policies and action plans. Speakers will discuss opportunities for scaling and alignment with frameworks such as the GST, GGA, NAPs, and NDCs, and inclusion of indigenous knowledge. The dialogue will address capacity gaps, collaboration models, and next steps to strengthen culture-based climate action across all levels.
15 Mins - Opening Keynote
Speaker: Vinícius Gürtler da Rosa, Co-Chair of the Group of Friends for Culture-Based Climate Action, Ministry of Culture, Brazil
High-level summary of the current state of Culture-Based Climate Action:
COP30 Progress Summary
Barcelona Declaration (GFCBCA)
Global Stocktake
UNESCO Culture Policy Progress Report
#culture2030goal
60 Mins - Panel Discussion
Speakers:
Carlos Paiva, Ministry of Culture, Brazil
Malini Mehra, London Climate Action Week Founder
Ave Paulus, ICOMOS, Climate Action WG Focal Point
Moderator:
Daniel Cervenka, The Convergence
Part 1: Discuss how cultural heritage/creative sectors are integrated into climate plans at the national, regional/local level, in specific sectors, etc. Explore opportunities for scaling (incl. meaningful incorporation of indigenous knowledge).
Topics: GST, GGA, NAPs & NDCs, Local Deployment
Part 2: Bridging the gap: identify barriers/ CB gaps & needs, and share lessons learned/solutions, collaboration mechanisms.
Topics:
Next Steps (Planned actions)
Needed steps to support CB (Across all levels)
Session 2: Designing capacity for culture-based climate action
14:00-15:15 (75 minutes)
This session convenes experts for an open dialogue on how culture can drive systemic climate solutions. It will examine how strategic collaboration, shared learning, and capacity-building mechanisms can align cultural action with broader climate goals. The discussion aims to chart pathways for collective mobilization - bridging cultural creativity, institutional frameworks, and funding ecosystems to accelerate scalable and high-impact cultural climate initiatives.
40 minutes: Panel From Funding to Collective Capacity
A dialogue among experts exploring how collaboration and shared capacity can transform the way cultural initiatives contribute to systemic climate solutions. The discussion will move beyond traditional financing to examine how institutional alignment, knowledge exchange, and partnership models can mobilize collective action and scale culture-based climate initiatives for greater impact.
Speakers:
Simon Musasizi, Climate Heritage Network Co-chair for Africa
Alexa Halpern, UNFCCC / ECCA
Thiago Jesus, We Make Tomorrow / Peoples Palace Project
Moderator:
Laila Martins (Confirmed)
20 minutes: 3 Break-out sessions
3 break-out groups led by solution leaders will function as a guide for real-world applications of solutions. The segment will be aimed at providing practical insights for solutions for capacity-building gaps for Culture-based climate action.
Breakout Leads / Speakers:
ECCA
Solutions: Accelerator City Program
Themes: Cities
Solutions: Global Campaign, Culture Mapping
Themes: Advocacy and Mobilization
Solutions: Heritage Adapts - 3000 x 2030
Themes: Capacity Building / Knowledge Sharing
15 Minutes: Closing
Reporting back to plenary with outcomes of discussions.
Session 3: CB Academy - Weaving climate stories for a more resilient future
15:30–17:00 (90 minutes)
Hosted by: United Nations University
This session for the Cultural Heritage and Arts Day blends storytelling, multimedia, and diverse voices to share climate concerns using the Sentipensar method. Participants gain practical strategies for integrating feeling and thinking into climate initiatives. Outcomes include capacity-building for inclusive resilience, amplified voices, and co-creation aligned with Global Mutirão’s vision of people-centered transformation.
Apply storytelling, cultural expression, and the arts guided by the Sentipensar approach to communicate climate realities in ways that unite knowledge, emotion, and lived experience (UNU)
Build capacity to develop compelling narratives that demonstrate the value of integrating culture and heritage into climate action and policy (People Palace Projects)
Session 4: Pitch Perfect: Culture-based Climate Solutions
17:15–18:00 (45 minutes)
Hosted by: PCCB
Participants will have the opportunity to pitch their capacity-building project or solution to a jury panel composed of a communications expert, a technical expert, a financier, and a political representative.
The jury will provide direct feedback, and the audience will also have a chance to vote for their favorite pitch. The winning teams will then be invited to take part in a transformative communications and capacity-building training in 2026.
Session 5: Arts & Creative Expression - Performance by LB Cultura Circular
This session aligns with the objectives of the Cultural Heritage and Arts Day by demonstrating how art, culture, and consciousness can work together to strengthen climate resilience and social transformation. It expands the understanding of cultural heritage as a living and creative force for change, integrating music, meditation, and storytelling as tools for awareness and regeneration. Through an experiential and participatory format, the session contributes to the Day's focus on Arts and Creative Expression, while also addressing the inner dimension of climate action-inviting participants to connect with themselves, with each other, and with the planet as part of a shared process of circular and creative transition.
18:15–19:15 (60 minutes)