Resources

In this podcast, Carla Figueira, director of the MA in Cultural Policy, Relations, and Diplomacy at the Institute for Creative and Cultural Entrepreneurship, Goldsmiths, University of London, discusses the role of international cultural relations and social learning in climate action. Figueira states that imagining humanity as a closed system separate from nature is unsustainable and that we need to envision a different future. Despite the current situation, humanity can develop innovative strategies to reconnect with communities and the natural environment. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a significant return to nature, which we should take as an example. Cultural relations, including the arts, heritage, and education, can promote understanding and international cooperation, which are essential to addressing the climate crisis. This cultural relation work implies an approach that is oriented toward caring, learning and sharing.

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In this podcast, Dea Vidović, Director of the Kultura Nova Foundation, discusses the approach to sustainability in the cultural and creative sector. Vidović examines the intersection between art, culture, and the environment, highlighting the importance of a repository as an informational tool to navigate various sustainable practices. The goal is to centralize fragmented data and simplify access to information on art, culture, and the environment. Two main aspects are increasing the visibility of sustainable practices and promoting positive changes and advancements in sustainability within the cultural sector. The repository is an open and flexible online platform for ongoing projects. Vidović mentions the international philanthropy commitment to climate change introduced in 2021, with 760 signatures, and the Free Arts Charter introduced in 2023, which commits cultural organizations to consider their mission and the impact of climate change, inspiring communities and collaborating on climate and artistic actions.

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In this podcast, Delphine Houba, Alderwoman of Culture, Tourism, Big Events, and Municipal Equipment for the City of Brussels, discusses the city's commitment to international solidarity and sustainable practices within the cultural sector. Houba highlights Brussels' involvement in global networks to promote sustainable cultural practices and envisions a future where the city balances tourism attractiveness with sustainability. With 3,000 events annually, either organized, subsidized, or permitted by the city, these events are integral to Brussels' identity and tourism appeal. However, they contribute to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The city's goal is to address the carbon footprint related to transportation, food, energy, consumption, and waste management. The event sector is crucial for local job creation and supports the cultural sector, especially post-COVID-19, enhancing the city's appeal and fostering community spirit. Houba emphasizes the importance of making sustainable development a priority, ensuring that events set an example for the sector by integrating environmental, social, and economic pillars into their practices.

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In this podcast, Iphigenia Taxopoulou, founding member and general secretary of Mitos21, the European theatre network, discusses the urgent need for capacity building in the green transformation of the performing arts sector. She highlights a major gap in addressing climate issues within educational and training programs, noting that many cultural sector professionals are trained using outdated models that do not incorporate sustainability. This gap creates a generational divide, where existing trainers lack the knowledge to teach new professionals about climate action. Taxopoulou also points to a significant shift since the early 2020s, driven by Greta Thunberg, movements like Fridays for Future and the EU’s Green Deal, which have increased focus on climate issues in the cultural sector. She cites HOME in Manchester as a leading example of an organization integrating sustainability into its practices. HOME has invested heavily in carbon literacy training for its staff, demonstrating a successful model for fostering environmental awareness. This approach includes continuous training and retraining, reflecting a broader trend towards embedding climate action within cultural practices.  

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In this podcast, Iphigenia Taxopoulou, founding member and general secretary of Mitos21, the European theatre network, discusses her book, Handbook of Culture Work, published in 2024. The book features a crucial chapter on the intersection of environmental policy and cultural work. Taxopoulou examines the integration of environmental policies within the cultural sector globally and explores why some countries, such as the UK, have been proactive in ecological transition while others have lagged. She delves into the reasons behind this discrepancy, questioning what has fostered an empowering environment in certain regions and not in others. Taxopoulou highlights the Paris Agreement as a pivotal moment in global climate governance, being the first legally binding international agreement that requires signatory countries—almost 200 in total—to deliver measurable results through their nationally determined contributions and to implement national climate policy frameworks. This agreement marked a significant shift in global climate policy. Notably, by 2015, there were 3,000 climate laws and policies in place worldwide, ensuring that at least one climate policy existed in every country with measurable outcomes.

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