Culture in global development- Why culture was recognised as a goal for the first time under India’s G20 presidency

Source: The post on culture in global development has been created, based on the article “Why culture was recognised as a goal for the first time under India’s G20 presidency” published in “Indian express” on 28th February 2024.

UPSC Syllabus Topic: GS Paper 3- Economy- growth, development and employment.

News: The article discusses how India, during its G20 presidency, successfully pushed for culture to be a main goal in global development. It highlights culture’s role in sustainable development and India’s tradition of sustainable practices, influencing global sustainability efforts.

Background

Under India’s G20 presidency, a new focus was placed on culture in global development, resulting in the “Kashi Culture Pathway.” This document, adopted at the G20 Culture Ministers’ Meeting, marked a major shift in development strategy, emphasizing culture as essential for inclusive and sustainable development.

The pathway outlines commitments to integrating culture more deeply into public policies and acknowledges its role in addressing modern challenges like social inclusion and economic growth.

Why is culture important in sustainable development?

Facilitates Inclusive Growth: Culture plays a key role in social inclusion and economic growth, making development more inclusive.

Impacts Key SDGs: Culture contributes to multiple Sustainable Development Goals like poverty reduction (SDG 1), quality education (SDG 4), to employment (SDG 8), and environmental preservation (SDG 13).

Social Justice: Culture plays a role in achieving social justice, aligning with SDG 10. It helps in addressing inequalities within societies.

Drives Intergenerational Communication: Culture serves as a conduit for learning and reinforcing social norms and values across generations.

For information on SDG read here

Why is it essential to recognize culture as a standalone goal within the post-2030 development agenda?

Filling Existing Gaps: Currently, culture is not a specific Sustainable Development Goal (SDG), despite its acknowledged importance in the United Nations 2030 Agenda.

Economic Impact: Cultural and creative sectors account for 3.1% of the global GDP and 6.2% of all employment. Recognizing culture can help shape and diversify economies, especially in the context of the G20, which accounts for 85% of the global GDP.

Addressing Modern Challenges: Culture’s role in tackling contemporary issues like climate change, rising inequalities, and digital transformation makes it indispensable for shaping inclusive societies.

Promoting Diversity and Inclusion: The Kashi Culture Pathway emphasizes the full respect and recognition of the diversity and equal dignity of all cultures, underscoring the need for a more inclusive global community.

How does India embody sustainable cultural practices?

Tradition of Sustainability: India’s rich cultural heritage and ancient wisdom emphasize sustainable practices, applicable to modern challenges.

Circular and Low Waste Economy: The Indian tradition of recycling and reusing items, like repurposing clothes and recycling materials, demonstrates a long-standing practice of resource efficiency and minimal wastage.

Cultural Ethos of Co-existence and Peace: India’s cultural values emphasize mutual co-existence and interdependence, contributing to a holistic approach to sustainability.

Lifestyle for Environment (LiFE) Initiative: This initiative, proposed by India’s Prime Minister at the COP26 Summit, reflects India’s commitment to promoting sustainable lifestyles globally.

Way forward

Moving forward, integrating culture into global development, as initiated by India during its G20 presidency, is crucial. This approach, backed by India’s sustainable practices like recycling and the LiFE initiative, can lead to more inclusive and resilient societies worldwide, supporting all 17 Sustainable Development Goals.

Question for practice:

Discuss how India, through its G20 presidency, advocated for the integration of culture into global development agendas and its significance in achieving sustainable development goals.