The creative economy represents a vital engine of economic resilience, social inclusion, and sustainable development. It accounts for 3% of global gross domestic product, a share that could triple by 2030.
The creative economy is increasingly instrumental in addressing the climate crisis and advancing the sustainability transformation. Sustainability is identified as a core priority among a survey of 133 stakeholders and increasingly embedded in global policy frameworks in the United Nations, Group of Twenty, and Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
The creative economy can accelerate the green transition by promoting environmental awareness and behavioral change, circular economies, eco-friendly design, and sustainable rural and urban development.
The sector is also part of a broader shift from environmentally intensive industrial activities toward a more climate-friendly, services- and knowledge-based economy.
To fully catalyze the creative economy’s contribution to the green transition, the following will be required: (i) multilevel and multistakeholder governance, (ii) a comprehensive legal framework and mainstreaming of environmental considerations into individual measures, (iii) targeted financing and capacity building initiatives, and (iv) better measurement of environmental performance.