Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

Baku, Azerbaijan, 16 November 2024 – Prince Rahim Aga Khan, Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network's (AKDN) Environment and Climate Committee, addressed the second High-Level Ministerial Dialogue on Culture-Based Climate Action, co-organised by the Group of Friends of Culture-Based Climate Action at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan.

This event was jointly organised by the United Arab Emirates and Brazil, who co-chair the initiative. During his intervention, Prince Rahim highlighted the work of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s Historic Cities Programme (AKHCP), which has been active for over three decades.

“Our central objective is to improve the lives of the inhabitants around cultural assets, while promoting models that will sustain these improvements,” he said.

“[AKHCP] has shown that investments in culture can help create sustainable and green development. Culture can have a lasting, positive impact in shaping people’s lives, identities, and their aspirations.”

He presented the AKDN model, showcasing its measurable positive impacts beyond cultural conservation. This model promotes good governance, strengthens civil society, increases incomes and economic opportunities, fosters respect for human rights, and enhances environmental stewardship, even in the world’s poorest and most remote regions.

Prince Rahim emphasised that these outcomes should be integral to the role of culture in the context of climate change.

On behalf of AKDN, he endorsed the consensus on the Terms of Reference for the Group of Friends of Culture-Based Climate Action, which was presented at the meeting. The work of AKDN was publicly acknowledged by participating Ministers in their respective speeches.