The missing goal? The place of culture in SDG implementation today and tomorrow

HLPF 2023
Online

The UN Secretary General’s report on progress against the SDGs in 2023 has underlined both the potential of culture – from creators and institutions, to the underlining attitudes and beliefs that shape behaviour – to accelerate the achievement of the Goals.

Yet despite this, there is no culture goal, risking the under-valuation and under-integration of culture in the planning and delivery of development policies.

This session, organised by partners in the Culture2030Goal campaign was an opportunity therefore to think together about an alternative – what if there had been a culture goal? What would it look like, how would it fit within the whole, and what might it mean in terms of national implementation of the SDGs?

We organised a side-event on last 12 July 2023, at 12:30-13:45 UTC. The session can be watched here.

In particular, the session:

  • Explored the shape of a potential culture goal, drawing on the Culture2030Goal campaign’s zero-draft as presented at the 2022 UNESCO MONDIACULT Conference
  • Examined the interlinkages between a potential culture goal and existing SDGs, highlighting in particular opportunities to accelerate progress
  • Provided a snapshot of research into the place of culture in 2023 VNRs.
  • Took stock of the High-Level Meeting on Culture and Sustainable Development, organised by the UN President of the General Assembly

Speakers:

  • John Crowley (independent)
  • Jordi Pascual (UCLG Culture Committee)
  • Bretony Colville (ICOMOS)
  • Jorge do Prado (FEBAB Brazil)