The cultural dimension of sustainable development: a European perspective

Increasing understanding and awareness of the importance of culture for well-being, for social cohesion, for the intrinsic capacity of society to live better quality of life and to contribute to SDGs have emerged and these topics are very much under the attention of the EU and its strategies in the latest years. Recently, the importance of the green transition and of the impact of climate change on the culture and creative sector, particularly on cultural heritage, has been addressed at both European and international level. The power of culture to stimulate the green transition and face the energy crisis, as well as to contribute mitigating climate change and contributing to climate action are a revolutionary pattern to be consolidated by culture policy makers who are responsible to implement the transformative role of culture across key priorities for improving resilience in society. EU funding programmes, such as Horizon Europe, including future crucial initiatives focused on the New European Bauhaus and on the development of a co-funded partnership between the Commission and Member States, coordinating research and innovation strategies driven by cultural heritage addressing sustainability and climate adaptation, will shape new drivers for culture at EU level.