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Culture is a basic pillar of sustainable development

Culture makes up the fourth pillar of sustainability, on an equal par with the environmental, social and economic pillars which are used to define sustainability and sustainable development, believes Katriina Soini, researcher at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland. Soini spoke at a seminar on the role of culture in sustainable development in the Baltic Sea Region, co-hosted by the Nordic Council of Ministers and the ministries of culture in Poland and Schleswig-Holstein. This was the first time these two topics were discussed under a common theme.

May 01, 2013

The Nordic Night of Culture in Copenhagen attracts an international audience every year. Archive photo.

Photographer
Silje Bergum Kinsten/norden.org

It is relatively new that cultural values and objectives are to be found at such an overall strategic level, and there are many questions on how the concept should be defined and the strategies put into practice. Katriina Soini stated that it is the role of research to make culture more visible and to conceptualise and explain culture in relation to sustainable development. In her view, the time is now right to integrate culture into the sustainability debate.

"Cultural resources are renewable, which is highly valued in the current economic and environmental crisis. A renewal of the sustainable concept, a kind of "culture laundry", is also welcome to ensure that the sustainability concept does not lose momentum".

The report “Culture and sustainability in the Baltic Sea Region – 8 findings, a number of opportunities and ways forward” was presented during the seminar. The report contains a summary of the stakeholders in the Baltic Sea Region who are working with culture as part of sustainable development and opportunities for further concrete initiatives.

Based on the report the participants discussed how culture can become an even stronger driving force for social development and noted that the report is the start of continuing work on these issues.

Culture ties the world together

The Secretary General of the Nordic Council of Ministers, Dagfinn Høybråten, highlighted the ongoing work in the Baltic Sea Region.

"The new priority of the cultural sector should not create new bureaucratic structures, but rather develop or re-organise the work in the already existing co-operation structures. The different policy bodies and stakeholders in the Baltic Sea Region should work together to develop synergies, gather strength and avoid duplication of activities. Cultural values tie us together in the Nordic-Baltic Region, despite our differences.

Anna Ceynowa from the Polish Ministry of Culture concluded the day with the words:
"If we do this work together one plus one will be three, and not just two. Co-operation makes development better, stronger and more creative.

Contacts

Linn Mårtens
Phone +45 29 69 29 26
Email linm@norden.org