MODEL of AUGSBURG Research R January 31 – February 2, 2019

Maria-Ward-Gymnasium Augsburg,

Frauentorstraße 26, 86152 Augsburg

www.munau.de

RESEARCH REPORT

Forum: 2nd Committee of the General Assembly Issue: and Student Officer: Regina Braunmiller Position: Chair of the 2nd Committee ______

1. Description of the Issue/Introduction

„If achieving is first and foremost about making an appropriate use of the planet’s resources, then culture must be at the centre of our development strategies, since frame people’s relationship to others in their society and the world around them, including the natural environment, and condition their behaviours. “(UNESCO: Culture and Sustainable Development: the Key Ideas, 2017)

This quotation shows the main idea about the topic: the relation between culture and sustainability. Culture has the power for development and plays a fundamental role in sustainable development. The question which has to be asked is: Does culture restrict/limit sustainable development? In general, the answer is “No”. Culture has to be placed at the heart of future policies and contributes to the three pillars of sustainable development - economic, social and environmental development – as well as to maintaining peace and security. Furthermore, culture rights, heritage, diversity and creativity are core components of human and sustainable development. It is time now, for culture to be at the heart of a positive transformative change to ensure cultural sustainability for the wellbeing of all.

crucial to development

approach to global challenges

aspects of a vehicle for economic economic culture development a vehicle for social cohesion sustainability social peace/ security and stability a vehicle for environmental environmental sustainability 2. Background Information

Culture is an enabler of sustainability because of its specific contributions that it makes to promote inclusive social and economic development, environmental sustainability, harmony, peace and security. Cultural resources, such as tangible and intangible heritage, arts, cultural expressions, are essential elements for the development of people and communities.

- Culture boosts the economy, because culture generates income and employment, is the engine of many development processes and has an impact on new technologies, enterprises and tourism. It brings innovation and creativity to the economy.

- Culture is the link to social dimension, because culture provides tools to fight against poverty, accelerates resilience and rootedness, broadens the capacities and opportunities of vulnerable groups, enables citizen participation, community empowerment and fosters intercultural dialogue, conflict resolution and equality of rights.

- Culture embraces the environmental dimension, because culture explains identity with land and place, and raises awareness of ecological responsibility. Culture and natural diversity are closely linked.

 The cultural strategies of sustainability

How can we bring the culture of sustainability to people and make them change their way of thinking? How can sustainability in general be lived? Culture needs (cultural) media to communicate knowledge or values to people. Here are a few examples of cultural mediums: - people (e.g. soldiers or tourists who transfer lifestyles and values to foreign countries) - social institutions (e.g. family, school or church that are responsible for socialisation) - newspapers, TV-programs, art, literature etc.

Every culture has a different way to communicate. “For a social change oriented to sustainability we don’t need only an education for sustainability, TV for sustainability or arts for sustainability, but probably also different media and communication structures.” (David Brocchi: The Cultural Dimension of Sustainability, 2008) Culture is both: a driver and an enabler of sustainable development.

 The cultures of sustainability If we ask people “are you for sustainability?” most would answer, even though reality shows a different picture. “Yes, I love sustainability”. But there are still for example hunger or gender inequality in our world. The culture of a country implements the culture of sustainability, which means the way how sustainable a society/life is. The variety of cultures is often a brake-factor for those cultural differences that endanger the dominating structure, which may impede a more sustainable life. Every culture makes the difference between social system and environment, inclusion or exclusion or between socially expected behaviour and social deviance. The social construction of reality is based on the dominating culture, a subculture or an alternative culture in a country.

- the western culture Western countries have a huge hidden effect in development. The western culture plays a very crucial role in the development and aggravation of the global environment crisis and that is why a culture of sustainability requires an exemplary change, which includes a radical change in rooted structures and therefore in values and categories. (Table 1)

- Table 1 Currently dominant culture vs. culture of sustainability Nearly every country has its own culture. What is proven in a particular socio-cultural context, could be false in another. This shows the cultural diversity in our world. A globalized/ worldwide culture of sustainability would be a contradiction in itself and not be possible. There can only be “cultures of sustainability”. Globalisation is a big problem in this context, because it reduces the diversity of cultures. The evolutionary ability of social systems requires cultural diversity. And as the UNESCO said in 2005: “The protection, promotion and maintenance of cultural diversity are an essential requirement for sustainable development for the benefit of present and future generations. “

“Culture enables individuals ´to live and be what they choose`. It also promotes understanding and exchange among peoples. Cultural activities, goods and services, as well as heritage, have a cultural value in themselves, because they are vehicles for identities, meanings and values, and are an essential dimension of life. Therefore, they must not be treated as solely having an instrumental value. If culture is to be used as an important resource for development, we also have to be aware of its intrinsic value and take care to protect and ensure that culture flourishes as a desirable end in itself.” (Culture as a goal: in the post-2015 development agenda)

In conclusion cultural resources have to be used sustainably and with respect, because of their essence and balance so as to ensure that they are not overexploited, distorted, or impoverished in a way that could compromise their long-term use by future generations. Culture involves a vision of sustainability, as culture can be a vector for economic, social and environmental development.

“Because culture is both a vector to foster other sustainable development goals and a development end in itself, a specific goal is needed in order to reinforce the potential of cultural resources for sustainable development and to achieve their long-term sustainable use for current and future generations.” (Culture as a goal: in the post-2015 development agenda)

3. Definition of Important Key Terms

 Culture: It is defined as the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group; it encompasses, in addition to art and literature, lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, traditions and beliefs.

 Sustainability: It is the ability to continue a defined behavior indefinitely. It is the way to stimulate preservation, development, renewal and transmission to future generations.

 Sustainable development: This is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Everyone understands the need for growing economies, but not everyone considers the negative consequences that economic growth can have for the environment and people’s wellbeing.

 Cultural resources: Human environment that humans are related to through their culture/ the cultural aspects of the environment. This means parts of the physical environment (natural and built) that have cultural value to some kind of sociocultural group (e.g. historic sites, archaeological sites and associated artifacts, sacred sites, traditional cultural properties, cultural items such as human remains, funerary objects, sacred objects, and objects of cultural patrimony, buildings and structures)  World cultural and natural heritage

4. Timeline of Events

5. Relevant Treaties, UN Resolutions and Actions

Actions/ Agendas:

 The General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a global agenda on sustainable development until 2030 in September 2015 including 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) showing the importance and consideration of cultural aspects in sustainable development  https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/  https://www.uclg.org/sites/default/files/culture_in_the_sdgs.pdf

 Culture and sustainable development: ways in which culture contributes to the 5 Ps - People - Planet - Prosperity - Peace - Partnership  http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0026/002646/264687e.pdf (Page 7)

UN Resolutions:

 http://www.unesco.org/new/fileadmin/MULTIMEDIA/HQ/CLT/CLT/pdf/cultdevL69. pdf (Culture and sustainable development)

6. Countries and Organizations Involved - Examples

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization)  Culture: a driver and an enabler of sustainable development  The power of culture for development  Sustainable development goals Global cultural networks: - IFACCA (International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies) - culture 21 ( for culture) -> UCLG Committee on Culture - IFCCD (International Federation of Coalitions for cultural diversity) - culture action europe

For all countries sustainability should be the ultimate goal. Therefore, you should be well- informed about the connection between culture and sustainability in our country.

7. Possible Future Solutions

(http://media.ifacca.org/files/cultureasgoalweb.pdf )

“Integrate culture within all development policies and programs. The cultural dimension should be systematically integrated, both as a driver and as an enabler, indefinitions of sustainable development and well-being, as well as in the conception, measurement and actual practice of development policies and programs such as education, communication, environment, economy, justice, commerce, rule of law, etc. This will require effective institutional coordination mechanisms at global and national levels, the development of comprehensive statistical frameworks with appropriate targets and indicators, the implementation of evidence-based analyses and capacitybuilding at all levels.

Ensure equal access to, and participation in, culture, to all by elaborating specific policies and legal frameworks, especially for Indigenous peoples, minorities, women and youth. Guaranteeing access to cultural goods and services, and to intangible and tangible heritage, free movement of artists, culture professionals and works of art, free participation in cultural life, and freedom of artistic expression and absence of censorship are critical to forging inclusive and equitablesocieties. Ensuring access to cultural resources for all, as free participation and exchange, should be at the core of the lives of people and communities and support their capabilities for development.

Multiply by x% the number of culture, arts and creativity programs in education policies. Cultural development and education are closely linked to each other. The United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD, 2005-2014) has proven that integrating cultural diversity and intercultural dialogue perspectives in learning and education systems enables talent development and encourages critical and creative thinking. When mainstreamed within educational strategies, cultural initiatives that recognize diversity within a human rights-based approach play an important role in building confidence and mutual understanding among multicultural communities.

Multiply by x% the number of citizens who are actively involved in cultural practices. Fostering cultural participation is necessity insofar as it contributes to promoting active citizenship. Because citizens are bearers and actors of culture, active participation in cultural practices is an important way for empowerment and citizen re-appropriation of cultural resources, and an essential factor for transmission, creation and dynamic evolution of these specific resources for development. Steps should be taken to foster equal access to cultural resources, venues and activities and to enhance opportunities to recognise one’s own and others’ heritage and to learn from it, as well as to develop one’s creative skills and take part in individual and collective cultural practices.

Devote a minimum 1% of the overall public finances to cultural sector. In conjunction with the necessary support to scientific studies and research there is a need to support cultural creation, production and presentation in all its diversity, as well as to ensure protection and transmission of cultural diversity. There is also the need to protect and support cultural specificity of local products and to promote awareness, protection, transmission, and development of cultures.

Leverage culture for poverty reduction and inclusive economic development. Culture is a driver for inclusive economic and social development. Among other things, cultural heritage, cultural and creative industries, arts and crafts, sustainable cultural tourism, culture-led urban revitalization and cultural infrastructure can serve as strategic tools for revenue and employment generation. Cultural and creative industries represent one of the most rapidly expanding sectors in the global economy, with an annual increase of between 5 and 20 percent.

Elaborate frameworks and action plans to identify, protect and sustainably use tangible and intangible heritage in all its forms and diversity. The use of tangible and intangible heritage constitutes an important livelihood and resource for many people and communities, through knowledge, language, crafts, agriculture, food safety and cooking, health and traditional medicine, landscapes, tourism and specificity of local products, among other things. The frameworks and action plans should provide a common “Cultural Impact Assessment” mechanism to be used in urbanization processes and aim at improving the cultural quality of public spaces (through meaningful use of public art, distinctive architecture, design, and landscapes etc.).

Build on culture to promote environmental sustainability. Access to essential environmental goods and services for the livelihood of communities should be secured through the stronger protection and more sustainable use of biological and cultural diversity, as well as by the safeguarding of relevant traditional knowledge and skills. Indeed, there is a significant interrelationship between culture and environmental sustainability due to the intrinsic link between cultural diversity and biodiversity, its ability to influence more responsible consumption and its contribution to sustainable management practices as a result of local and traditional knowledge.

Elaborate and implement a national strategy on cultural diversity. has become a global trend meaning accountability, transparency, responsiveness, legality, respect for human rights, efficiency and effectiveness of government agencies and public institutions. It also implies better participation of civil society in policy and decision- making processes. Through culture and arts, people’s rights to and expression, associative and participating processes as well as independent media and communication can be stimulated and ensured. Cultural diplomacy, when applied at all levels, possesses the unique ability to accelerate the realization of diverse principles such as global intercultural dialogue, justice, equality and independence, the protection of human rights, global peace and stability. A rights-based approach to culture and respect for cultural and linguistic diversity should be promoted within national and regional policies and legal frameworks.

Mobilize culture and mutual understanding to foster peace. Intercultural dialogue and the recognition of and respect for cultural diversity can forge more inclusive, stable and resilient societies. They should be promoted notably through educational, communication and artistic programs, as well as through dedicated national councils on cultural diversity. Consideration of cultural contexts should also be integrated into conflict resolution initiatives and peace-building processes.”

Please try to think of more solutions and ways on this issue.For more solutions:  http://www.un.org/en/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=A/RES/72/229

8. Questions for the Delegates/ How to prepare as a delegate  How can we promote a culture of sustainability to people?  How can we change people’s way of thinking?  How can sustainability be promoted in different cultures/ the culture of your country?  How does your country contribute to globalisation? / How is your country affected by globalisation?  What cultural changes are necessary in your country to get more sustainable?

9. Useful Sources and Links

. http://www.unesco.org/new/en/culture/themes/culture-and-development/the-future-we- want-the-role-of-culture/the-key-ideas/ . http://media.ifacca.org/files/cultureasgoalweb.pdf . http://www.lacult.unesco.org/lacult_en/docc/The_Power_of_Culture_Development.pdf . https://davidebrocchi.eu/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/2008_newfrontier.pdf . http://www.un.org/millenniumgoals/pdf/Think%20Pieces/2_culture.pdf . What is sustainable development?: https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2015/09/what-is-sustainable- development/