Games for Teaching About Climate Change

Dennis MeadowsUppsalla University

11.5.15

Avalanche

CO2 Concentration

In this Session I will:

• Remind you of data that show we have not yet learned to control climate change

• Describe the main features of the climate system that make it difficult to manage

• List five aspects of the problem and show some simple games that you can use to help others understand these aspects

Rising Global Temperature

#1: Habitual Behavior

Climate change results from actions that have become deeply embedded in the habits of our society. Actions that used to be beneficial now threaten the survival of our species. Efforts to reduce climate change will succeed only if we change our habits.

Arms Crossed

#2: Inappropriate frames

Problems caused by climate change occur in places very far away from the actions that produced them. Efforts to reduce climate change ask us to enlarge our perceptions of time and place and our sense of responsibility.

Frames

#3: Magnification

A seemingly small change can cause major problem. Efforts to reduce climate change must consider signals that do not initially seem important or significant.

Cloth Fold

#4: Long Delays

Climate change involves processes that contain very long delays. We are not yet experiencing the full consequences of past emissions. Even after we implement appropriate policies, problems will persist for many decades.

Hit the Target

Easy Problems

Now Future

Bett

er --

----

->

Next Evaluation

Action #1

Actual Desired

Action #2

Difficult Problems

Now Future

Bett

er --

----

->

Next Evaluation

Action #1

Action #2

ActualDesired

Thumb Wrestling

#5: Autonomous behavior

Climate change is caused by a set of complex interactions

that are not fully under human control. It contains

processes that can escalate on their own. Actions to reduce

climate change must reflect respect for the natural systems

that are at work, independently of social control.

Ice Cover Feedback Loop

Ice Cover

Heat ReflectedFrom Earth

TemperatureOf the Air

Melting Of Ice

+

+

+

Living Loops

Sample Positive Climate Loops

• Ice cover -> heat reflection• Tundra melt -> methane release• Water vapour -> heat capture• Temperature -> forest growth -> CO2 capture• Sea temperature -> methane hydrate melt

1-2-3 CLAP