December 2023

Newsletter

COP28 Preview: 5 Things to Watch for in Dubai

For about the last quarter century, the most consequential meeting of the year takes place in November and December. The UN’s climate conference — a.k.a. the UNFCCC (UN Framework Convention on Climate Change), a.k.a. COP (Conference of the Parties) — convenes representatives from each UN Member State, as well as other public sector leaders, experts from the private sector, academia, and the media, and those with an interest in a livable planet. The host country rotates on a geographical basis, and this year’s conference (COP28) will take place in Dubai, starting today (Nov. 30).

The stakes are high — as UN Secretary-General Antonio Gutteres has said, if we don’t take action, we’re looking at a “hellish” future. And yet this vital conference is taking place in a petro-state; the oil industry will for the first time have its own pavilion; and the President of the conference is also the CEO of the UAE’s largest oil company. So, er, what can we expect from COP28?

Read here to see five patterns, themes, and takeaways to watch for in Dubai. And follow Brooklyn Story Lab on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram for daily updates on the ground from Dubai.

The island nation of Tuvalu is replicating itself in the metaverse. The primary reason for doing so? The threat of rising sea levels from climate change could well see the nine-island country disappear altogether within 100 years’ time. So capturing and preserving the islands’ history and culture is essential.

Tuvalu is not the only nation facing climate-related existential challenges to its future, and cultural legacy. Generational wildfires, heatwaves, and floods are posing problems for communities around the world, particularly those on the front lines of climate change — who are also the least responsible for the greenhouse gas emissions that cause it.

A new initiative, the Partnership for Digital Justice (led by our partners at the nonprofit Pyxera Global), aims to coalesce a movement to preserve and protect cultural heritage, archives, records, and artifacts that are threatened not just by climate change, but also by the ravages of time — particularly those of communities across the Digital Divide.

A Leap of Faith

When Hawaii became the first U.S. state to legislatively mandate a transition to 100% renewable energy by 2045, it didn’t have all the answers as to how it was going to do so.

Chris Lee, the Hawaii state senator who authored the bill, recently recalled, "I think the biggest thing is having a deadline in the law, which forced a conversation for how we were going to get there."

Lee made that point in “How Hawaii Did It,” a video webinar produced by the nonprofit Samuel Lawrence Foundation and Brooklyn Story Lab, featuring the experts who helped engineer Hawaii’s landmark legislation. And Lee further stressed the critical element of having a deadline (in this case 2045): because deadlines catalyze innovation.

Watch the whole interview on "How Hawaii Did It," part of the "First Fridays" webinar series, here. And register here for the next one, “Live from Dubai,” this Friday (December 1 — 2:30 pm EST, 11:30 am PST), as Brooklyn Story Lab CEO Lance Gould interviews four attendees at the most consequential climate convening of the year, COP28, the UN’s annual climate conference (see "COP28 Preview," above).

Inclusivity is central to the mission of our friends and partners at the Center for Comprehensive Health Practice (CCHP). So — as they often do — they’re opening the doors of their Harlem community to host a World AIDS Day “Lunch and Learn” presentation on the “Evolution of HIV care” featuring HIV prevention, outreach, and awareness educator George Gates.

World AIDS Day (December 1) was founded by two World Health Organization public-information officers in 1988 to raise awareness of HIV among people worldwide and encourage them to get tested and know their prevention options.

To learn more about CCHP’s Lunch and Learn and other community outreach events, please contact acarvajal@cchphealthcare.org or call (212) 360-7828 for more information.

December Calendar

Every month, there are social awareness days or tentpole events that can help organizations like yours connect to a larger, purpose-driven audience. By creating content connected to these key dates, you have the potential to create viral content. Here are the global dates that stand out to us in December:

11/30-12/12: UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (a.k.a. COP28, Dubai, UAE)

12/1: World AIDS Day

12/2: International Day for the Abolition of Slavery

12/2-12/8: UNLEASH Rwanda (Kigali, Rwanda)

12/3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities

12/5: International Volunteer Day

12/5: World Soil Day

12/8-12/10: Art Basel (Miami, Florida)

12/9-12/11: Nobel Peace Prize Celebrations

12/10: Human Rights Day

12/11: International Mountain Day

12/18: International Migrants Day

12/24: Christmas Eve

12/25: Christmas Day

12/27: International Day of Epidemic Preparedness

12/31: New Year's Eve

Ask us how to create noteworthy content that connects with these dates for your purpose-driven organization or brand — or how to get more attention for your social media, digital media, or feature stories.

Let's Tell Your Story

Brooklyn Story Lab is a globally focused media consultancy that creates content solutions for purpose-driven organizations, with a particular focus on their social good commitments. Our work is aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals — a blueprint for making sure no one on the planet is left behind.

If you would like your purpose-driven project to reach new audiences and deliver more impact, we’d love to help you tell the story through our Content Solutions:



• Articles and Impact Stories
• Brand Strategy
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• Newsletters
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• Podcasts
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Please send us more information about your project so we can help you get started. Fill out our contact form here, or email info@brooklynstorylab.net.

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