Dr. Salim Al-Malik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), announced that ICESCO has launched an initiative to establish a mechanism to monitor and follow up the impact of climate changes on heritage sites, using remote sensing technologies and artificial intelligence applications. He also revealed ICESCO’s initiative to measure the carbon footprint and reduce the use of carbon-producing materials in a number of archaeological sites and museums in countries of the Islamic world.

This was part of his speech, today, Friday (8 December 2023), at the high-level ministerial dialogue for Culture-Based Climate Action, held within the framework of the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28) in Dubai, in the presence of ministers and officials from the culture and heritage sector from more than 20 countries and heads of relevant international organizations, to discuss the key role played by the sector of culture in climate action, and to find a way to integrate culture in climate action.

Dr. Al-Malik affirmed that protecting culture and human heritage must be a top priority given the increasing natural challenges including environmental threats and climate changes, noting that ICESCO had submitted a proposal to adopt culture as the 18th SDG.

ICESCO Director-General also reviewed the Organization’s initiatives and efforts to protect culture and heritage, noting that ICESCO launched its initiative to establish a fund for confronting the impact of climate change on heritage sites. The initiative was strongly present in the high-level ministerial dialogue at COP 27, which resulted in the “Sharm El-Sheikh Declaration on “Culture-Based Climate Action”.

Dr. AlMalik stated that the “Culture-Based Climate Action” is being finalized today at COP 28 with the aim of launching the Group of Friends of Climate Action on Culture. He concluded by emphasizing that ICESCO will always be an active partner in this framework in order to protect human heritage.