Preface

The 22 stories in this collection

Dear World Leaders Many

people are blind to the climate

crisis Climate Change Stories

for COP28 Decision Makers

convey urgent messages unif ied

by a common theme the need for

climate action now at the COP28

The VU Amsterdam community

including students writers artists

scientists AI an inf luencer and

an indigenous writer collaborated

to present the climate crisis to

you in ways that are we hope

creative surprising and inspiring

Our stories range from f ictional

encounters to nonf ictional letters

travel reports infographics and

even cartoons

While some stories acknowledge

the severe impacts of this complex

crisis they also discern wisdom

and hope in human choices in

shaping a better future Most

explore deteriorating environments

and climates in the notsodistant

future Youll witness the climate

crisis from diverse perspectives

global locations and through

various characters eyes

The single goal of these stories

is to awaken you policymakers

CEOs and politicians to take

decisive action for our climate

and all life on Earth We call for

ambitious climate policies to

safeguard us all

Yours sincerely

Sjoerd Kluiving 1s VU

Amsterdam Marc ter Horst

Nicky Bosman Clemens Kaupa

Lodewijk Koster Simone Burger

Luuk Huitink Brijlal Chaudhari

Babette Porcelijn Linde Ex Jessica

Hill Douwe Jan Joustra Michelle

Engelmann Marloes Morshuis

Ellie Domigan Helena Style Muñoz

Mariam Sugijanto Thijs Goverde

Insa Duvos Sijanda de Boer and

Konstantinos Pardalis

Sjoerd Kluiving

Distinguished Fellow of the

Anthropocene 2023

VU Amsterdam