Global report on cultural policies, Culture: the missing SDG

The UNESCO Global Report on Cultural Policies, launched in the wake of the MONDIACULT 2022 Declaration, offers the first truly comprehensive analysis of cultural policies across the world. Drawing on data from 196 countries, over 100 cities, and more than 1,200 national and local reports, it reveals both progress and stark inequalities. The report demonstrates what culture represents today: not only a powerful means of expression and resilience but also a fundamental goal for humanity’s sustainable future. It underscores when this recognition is most urgent—at a time of accelerating digital transformations, widening funding gaps, and mounting climate risks. By highlighting where cultural participation and investment thrive and where they lag behind, it raises the question of why culture is still sidelined in global frameworks. Its message is unambiguous: without culture, sustainable development remains incomplete.