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Image credit: Unisphere, commissioned for the New York World’s Fair of 1964–65, courtesy of NYC Department of Cultural Affairs © Julienne Schaer
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Covid19 Impact and Policy Bulletin 6: Culture and the Climate Emergency
In our sixth WCCF COVID-19 Impact and Policy Bulletin we looked at how COVID-19 is affecting climate action plans for culture. We found three main areas of impact.
In our sixth WCCF COVID-19 Impact and Policy Bulletin we looked at how COVID-19 is affecting climate action plans for culture. We found three main areas of impact.
Positive and negative impacts:
Lockdowns have reduced industrial activity and travel, reducing greenhouse gases and pollutants. There has been less pressure on ecological systems, as well as increased engagement with nature during the pandemic.
However, there is increased use of single use plastic and medical waste, and risks of carbon emissions rebound as industries return to ‘business as usual’.
Longterm behavioural changes are not yet clear – there is an opportunity for governments to shape and support positive behavioural and attitude shifts.
Intensified challenges for cities and culture:
Competing priorities with limited resources has impacted on environmental action and forward planning.
Missed opportunities to embed green recovery in COVID-19 responses.
Culture is facing a crisis of survival, with severe impacts of lockdowns and loss of work across the sector. With reduced workforce, internal capacity and environmental skills have been lost.
New policy challenges:
How can policy makers find a common ground between mainstream economic restart objective and climate action?
We identified five priorities for cities in the recovery period:
Limit emissions rebound
Act now to maintain positive environmental impacts
Culture must play its part in the reduction of carbon emissions in-line with the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals
Drive collaboration
Recovery provides opportunities for culture to collaborate
Cultural policy must align with local social and environmental strategies; urban design; education and distance-learning; digital services; tourism; employment and reskilling
This also presents opportunities to attract different types of funding
Support transition
Seize opportunities for growth in the low carbon and circular economy
Cultural organisations can maximise the opportunities of a ‘green recovery’ with support and capacity building
Align funding
Cultural recovery funding must be linked to environmental targets
Raise awareness of the value of culture among other public and private investors
Cultural spaces and programmes can influence audiences’ environmental behaviours
Revive engagement
Capture public interest in the transformational climate agenda
Culture provides many opportunities for targeted engagement and community building
Many cultural leaders are looking to go beyond ‘recovery’ and contribute to transformation on a more systemic level
Download the full report below. With thanks to our research partner Julie’s Bicycle.
Culture and the Climate Emergency
5 Priorities for World Cities in the post-covid recovery period
Apr 22, 2021
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EXPERTISE
A global research and consulting practice for culture and the creative economy
Nov 4, 2021
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The Green World Cities of Tomorrow: Culture and Sustainability
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Apr 22, 2021
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Culture and the Climate Emergency
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Dec 4, 2020
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By BOP Consulting
Paul Owens
Co-Founder and Director
Paul is a leading international advisor and practitioner in cultural policy and creative economy. He is Co-Founder of BOP, and alongside his fellow directors he has pioneered now well-established methods to measure the impact of cultural policy.
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