Brazil’s G20 presidency champions culture for global equity
As chair of the G20 Culture Working Group, Brazil aims to integrate culture into global governance, driving inclusive development and sustainable progress
Throughout 2024, Brazil’s Ministry of Culture is chairing the G20 Culture Working Group, committed to making culture a key part of the multilateral agenda and debates among the world’s leading economies. Culture is an essential tool for promoting more inclusive and representative global governance, and for ensuring sustainable development as a pathway to a more democratic and equitable future for all people.
In our G20 presidency, we have followed the guidance of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who is committed to upholding culture as a strategic tool for better income distribution, more equitable social and human development, addressing and reducing asymmetries among our countries, and expanding dialogue and understanding in the international arena.
Thus, the G20 Culture Working Group’s priority agenda has highlighted the interconnection between cultural policies and other public policies in a holistic, decentralised and globally connected manner, addressing environmental, social and global dimensions.
Mobilising the Global South
We understand that this is an important moment for the Global South within the G20. We assumed the presidency from India in 2023 and South Africa will have the presidency in 2025. It is, therefore, a very timely moment for us to mobilise the voices of the Global South, as a bridge that connects us with developed countries.
The role of the Brazilian presidency has been to seek common paths of understanding and advances on the global cultural agenda, focusing on preserving knowledge and traditions; safeguarding cultural heritage and memory, which have been affected by climate change and its harmful effects; appreciating our various cultural manifestations and expressions in diverse territories and communities including traditional communities, Indigenous peoples, Afro-American populations, peripheral communities, the LGBTQIA+ population, people in downtrodden areas and historically marginalised groups; and promoting culture as a driver of economic growth and democratic ideals. Additionally, we focus on strengthening the economy through social emancipation, contributing to sustainable economic growth and addressing the challenges in the digital environment for preserving and enhancing our cultural diversity and for expanding access and democratic participation.
We are also proposing, in our G20 discussions, a debate on culture, new technologies and the impacts of artificial intelligence on the creative process. We advocate a digital environment marked by transparency, one that guarantees access, accessibility and the discovery of diverse content, not only concentrated in a few languages and countries. We also aim for this digital environment to foster creativity.
AI should be a tool employed with a human-centric perspective, guided by ethical principles. A fundamental aspect of this discussion is ensuring fair remuneration for artists, creators and cultural professionals within the digital realm and beyond.
Another priority is the discussion of the impact of culture on economic and social development. The creative economy generates income, jobs and opportunities, especially for younger generations. In this context, we need to address, at the G20, best practices and ways of measuring the effects of culture on the economy. We must develop relevant indicators and methodologies that allow us to establish benchmarks and ensure the economic and social rights of cultural workers.
Preserving cultural heritage
Another important agenda item is the preservation, protection, safeguarding and promotion of cultural heritage. We recognise the importance of cultural heritage, both tangible and intangible, in improving our understanding of the past and projecting values and solutions for the future, including addressing climate change and protecting endangered languages.
We will leverage Brazil’s presidency of the G20 to foster international cooperation on these issues, integrating culture into the international climate change agenda. We will build on the progress made at UN climate conferences in Dubai in 2023 and in Azerbaijan in 2024 as we prepare for the meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Belém in 2025. We look forward to advancing discussions on achieving the objectives outlined in the United Arab Emirates Framework Agreement for Global Climate Resilience, particularly concerning the protection of cultural heritage.
Through the G20, we have the opportunity to leverage culture as a force that transcends borders. We seek the support of individuals and institutions in crafting cultural policies that celebrate and honour our diverse cultural heritage, fostering social transformation and serving as allies in the fight against poverty. These policies must promote reparations, address inequalities and prioritise an effective, humanised and robust defence of sustainability and social justice. Together, we aim to build a legacy of peace, prosperity and unparalleled cultural enrichment for present and future generations across our nations.
