Culture in the Voluntary National Reviews
Culture is not only a sector of activity in itself, but also a transversal, intrinsic component across the public policy spectrum, acting as an enabler to accelerate sustainable development processes. While culture does not have a dedicated Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) in the 2030 Agenda, it is reflected across many of the goals and targets including those on sustainable cities (SDG 11), decent work (SDG 8), reduced inequalities (SDG 10), climate action (SDG 13), gender equality (SDG 5), innovation (SDG 9), and peaceful and inclusive societies (SDG 16).
This transversal dimension of culture in public policy-making is increasingly reflected in the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) submitted by Member States. These reports, which countries are invited to provide to monitor their progress in the achievement of the SDGs, are key indicators of public policy priorities and commitments at country level, and draw a global picture of the ways in which countries envision a more sustainable future. The transversality of culture can be appreciated in the ways in which countries explicitly integrate culture in education, heritage, innovation and city development, and implicitely through environmental dimensions, social inclusion, and peace-building.
UNESCO, has analysed the VNRs for the period 2016-2022, and can confirm that culture interacts with all 17 SDGs at the different policy levels. This snapshot provides inspiration going forward as we place culture at the heart of the UN Decade of Action on Sustainable Development.