The International Council of Museums (ICOM) and ICOM Brazil, in collaboration with partners including ICOMOS and the Climate Heritage Network (CHN), will host a crucial side event during the COP30 climate conference in Belém, Brazil. The event, held within the premises of the Museu das Amazônias on November 21, 2025, is focused entirely on “culture-based climate action”—a core theme being advanced by the Brazilian COP30 Presidency. This initiative aims to strengthen the role of cultural heritage institutions in global climate-policy dialogue.
The primary goal is to integrate diverse cultural and knowledge systems, particularly those from Latin America and the Amazon, into practical solutions for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and resilience. Discussions will cover concrete actions, such as the presentation of case studies showing how museums contribute to mitigation efforts and the development of cultural indicators for inclusion in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs).A key topic on the agenda is the need for new funding mechanisms to safeguard cultural heritage and collections that are increasingly threatened by climate change impacts like extreme heat and flooding. The event builds upon the recently launched Brazilian Charter on Cultural Heritage and Climate Change, co-led by ICOMOS Brazil and ICOM Brazil, signaling a high-level commitment to recognizing cultural assets as essential elements of climate response and resilience.
