Euskadi launches SDG 18 “United Voices”: elevating linguistic and cultural diversity in the 2030 Agenda
The Basque Government has officially presented SDG 18 “Ahots Batuak” (United Voices) on 2nd June, a ground-breaking proposal to recognise linguistic and cultural diversity as a fundamental pillar of sustainable development. The initiative aims to complement the existing 2030 Agenda by addressing a critical gap: the lack of acknowledgement for the role that language and culture play in social cohesion, inclusion, human development, and innovation.
At its core, SDG 18 highlights the transformative power of languages, not only as tools of communication, but as expressions of identity, memory, and belonging. It calls for global alliances to protect linguistic rights and ensure that every community can thrive in its own language, contributing to a richer, more plural global society.
The presentation of “Ahots Batuak” took place at Tabakalera in Donostia-San Sebastián, and was led by Ibone Bengoetxea, First Vice-Lehendakari and Minister for Culture and Language Policy, alongside Asier Aranbarri, Director for Social Innovation and the 2030 Agenda of the Basque Government. The event showcased the international ambition and territorial grounding of the initiative, with the participation of key partners and experts from Hawaii, the State of Paraná (Brazil), and UN Local 2030 Secretariat.
More than a symbolic gesture, SDG 18 is part of the Basque Country’s broader 2025–2028 Social Innovation and 2030 Agenda Plan, which connects education, cultural policy, digital strategy, and democratic participation to build stronger, more resilient communities.
In collaboration with the Local2030 Secretariat of the United Nations, the initiative seeks to build a global alliance of culturally and linguistically diverse territories, sharing challenges and strategies to shape international public policy. With a clear roadmap and a shared vision, Euskadi positions SDG 18 as a call to action: to make diversity a driver of global transformation and a core element of the future of sustainable development.