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The role of culture in sustainable development: why is it called the fourth pillar?
Since 2002, the role of culture has received increasing attention in sustainable development. With the formulation of "Culture 21", culture has been officially positioned as the fourth pillar of sustainable development, alongside the traditional three aspects of environment, social inclusion and economy. This move not only reflects respect for culture, but also emphasizes its indispensability in social development.
Culture is an important part of citizenship, helping people of all ages find a sense of belonging.
"Culture 21" was launched by the United Cities and Local Government Organization between 2002 and 2004 to provide a framework for cultural governance. The birth of this plan provides a new perspective to help local governments better understand the diverse meanings of culture and its contribution to sustainable social development. This understanding that every city is a major site of cultural production and dispute resolution has facilitated the development and implementation of cultural policy.
Historically, culture has not received the attention it deserves in discussions of sustainable development. In Agenda 21, adopted at the Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992, there was limited discussion of culture. Over time, however, many cities began to incorporate culture into their development strategies. For example, in 1998, the World Bank and UNESCO jointly supported the integration of culture into sustainable development strategies.
The right to free expression and the moral rights of authors and artists must be protected and developed.
Culture 21 sees culture as a tool for achieving social and economic goals. The plan includes 67 articles covering principles, commitments and recommendations. The principles section highlights the importance of cultural diversity and human rights and identifies the roles of various stakeholders in implementing the agenda. Through channels such as libraries, museums and the Internet, cultural participation can not only promote community cohesion, but also enhance people's understanding of sustainable development issues.
With the promotion of Culture 21, more and more local governments have begun to formulate policies to support culture. This is not only to protect cultural heritage, but also to integrate the concept of sustainable development into daily life. Currently, more than 500 governments and organizations are participating in Culture 21 activities.
Culture is not isolated, it is closely related to every aspect of society, which is the cornerstone of sustainable development.
In addition, the movement has received support from the United Nations and several international agencies, including UNESCO. At the same time, indicators such as the Culture as Development Indicators (CDIS) were developed to assess and promote cultural development in different regions.
In the process of promoting the sustainable development goals around the world, the voice of culture has become increasingly powerful. In the Sustainable Development Goals launched in 2015, the United Nations and UCLG jointly advocated cultural inclusion. The cooperation of various global networks composes the slogan "The future we want includes culture" and creates a new direction in the realization of cultural goals.
The New Urban Agenda should elaborate in greater detail a culture-based local approach to sustainable development.
At the Habitat III conference held in Quito, Ecuador in 2016, cultural issues received attention again. The New Urban Agenda ultimately adopted by the conference emphasized the importance of culture in sustainable urban development. Successful cases in many cities show that integrating cultural elements into urban governance can effectively promote social cohesion and improve the quality of life of residents.
As an effective tool, Culture 21 not only serves to strengthen the role of culture in urban policy, but also demonstrates how culture can become the fourth pillar of sustainable development. The promotion of this perspective requires local governments to develop more inclusive cultural policies at the policy level and to integrate cultural dimensions into all public policies.
With the active participation of different cities, cities such as Quebec, Canada, and Aissavilla in Morocco have all formulated cultural plans and actively responded to the advocacy of Culture 21. Through these practices, culture is no longer seen as a single influencing factor, but as an integral part of sustainable development.
In short, the role of culture in sustainable development has gradually become a global consensus. It is not only related to the continuation of culture itself, but also to the sustainable future of human society. In the face of current global challenges, can culture once again become an important bridge for us to seek reconciliation and cooperation?
