The 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) is taking place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt from 6-18 November 2022. This conference will bring policymakers, climate activists, and civil society representing a range of stakeholders together to advance global commitments for addressing the climate crisis.

Thanks to our partners at the Climate Heritage Network, especially the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), IFLA is able to take part in the conference to bring the voices of libraries to the discussion.

Together with Heba Ismail and Marwa El Sahn, members of the Regional Division for the Middle East and North Africa Committee, IFLA is organising several side events during COP27, which will feature library perspectives as well as those from other cultural institutions and organisations.

Blue Zone Event

Accelerating Implementation of the Glasgow Work Programme on ACE through Cooperation, Collaboration, and Partnership: Stakeholder dialogues on culturally informed and people-centred approaches 

  • When: Wednesday, November 9, 2022
  • This dialogue will focus on how partnerships with culture, arts, and nature-based civil society stakeholders can help policymakers implement culturally-informed and people-centred approaches to ACE. It will explore gaps and conceptualise modalities for greater coordination across the four priority areas of the Glasgow Work Programme. More information here.

Green Zone Side Event

Culture, Heritage, and the Arts Accelerating Climate Empowerment: Partnering with the culture sector to implement ACE

  • When: Thursday, 10 November
  • This public Green Zone Side Event will highlight good practices from a range of cultural stakeholders and share diverse examples of how cultural actors can help translate the priority areas of ACE into practical actions to inspire others. More information here.
  • Heba Ismail will join the panel to provide insight into how libraries help create and enhance access to tools and support for building capacity and awareness raising on ACE.

Climate Education Student Workshop

Contre le changement climatique : ateliers arts et jeux

Workshop flyer

  • When: Thursday, 10 November
  • Organised by Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Centre d’Activités Francophones, Ecole Française de Sharm el Sheikh, Université Senghor
  • Offered through Climate Heritage Network’s Francophone Committee, Marwa El Sahn will help lead this workshop with students from the Ecole Française de Sharm el Sheikh and visiting students from the Université Senghor to explore various aspects of climate action with youth and young learners.

#ArtCultureHeritageCOP27 at the Sharm el-Sheik Museum

  • The event is being held under the patronage of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities with the support of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). The programme will feature panels, assemblies and breakouts, as well as performances and more.
  • The programme includes an event moderated by Marwa El Sahn titled “Climate Education for all: Linking Culture, Education, and Climate Empowerment”.
  • The full day event will showcase the power of culture to bring people together for transformative climate action. More information here.

These events will help inform ongoing advocacy related to Action for Climate Empowerment, and could be considered as a basis for a future workshop or expanded dialogue series during the next Dialogue on Action for Climate Empowerment in June 2023.

Find out more about Climate Empowerment and sign IFLA’s Pledge for Climate Empowerment here.

Questions: claire.mcguire@ifla.org