SAINT PETERSBURG – The Ministers of Culture from the United Arab Emirates, Azerbaijan, and Brazil, representing the presidencies of COP28, COP29, and COP30 respectively, held a trilateral meeting on Thursday to discuss the upcoming cultural agenda for COP29. The meeting took place in Saint Petersburg, Russia, as part of ongoing preparations for Azerbaijan’s role as host of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Minister Adil Karimli met with his counterparts from the UAE, Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, and Brazil, Margareth Menezes, to finalize plans for the Second High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on Culture. The dialogue is set to take place at COP29 and aims to integrate culture more fully into international climate action.
The ministers expressed their gratitude to Azerbaijan for its commitment to addressing climate change and commended the preparations underway for COP29 in Baku. Brazil and the UAE praised the initiatives Azerbaijan has put forward, including concerts and other cultural events that are planned for the conference.
Culture has taken on a more prominent role in global climate discussions since COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh, where the Emirates Declaration on Culture-Based Climate Action was adopted. The first High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on Culture, held during COP28 in Dubai, brought together more than 30 ministers and international organizations to emphasize the importance of cultural heritage and the arts in tackling climate change. Azerbaijan, as the host of COP29, continues to promote this agenda on the international stage.