Although En-ROADS is a global simulator, it’s a powerful tool for engaging people in local climate action. Here are some ways to connect global insights to local conversations in your En-ROADS climate workshop or game:
- Start by asking about local climate actions and/or debates: Ask participants what climate-related actions they or their community are already taking, or what climate and energy debates are happening locally. Then, test these actions within En-ROADS to explore what would happen if the whole world adopted these practices. This helps highlight what’s working—and what more is needed—to meet global climate goals. In your debrief, bring the conversation back to the local level: “How can we apply what we learned to our community?”
Tip: To prepare, consider looking up recent climate policies or proposals in your region. For example, in the U.S., Climate XChange’s State Climate Policy Dashboard tracks state-level policies and ongoing legislative debates. India Climate & Energy Dashboard (ICED) for India, Herramienta para la Acción Climática for Colombia, and the National Climate Change Information System for South Africa are examples of similar tools in other countries. - Use the impact maps to highlight local effects: Ask participants about climate impacts they’ve experienced where they live. In online events, consider using polls to collect responses. Then, show relevant impact maps in En-ROADS—such as Sea Level Rise or Extreme Heat Days—before and after running a scenario. This helps visualize how global choices affect local outcomes. (Select Graphs > Impacts or click the graph’s title to access these maps.)
- Pair En-ROADS with local data: Use En-ROADS to simulate global action and impacts, but accompany it with content focused on your specific region. For example, our team created presentation slides showing key statistics from the U.S. for each of the 19 action categories (sliders) in En-ROADS (find them here). This has been useful when sharing En-ROADS with U.S. government leaders.
- Encourage reflection: Pose questions such as: “Was there anything that surprised you in what was necessary to address climate change within En-ROADS? How might that influence our local strategies?”
- Use the “spheres of influence” illustration to discuss individual actions: Close the session by asking: “What are you going to do next?” Use the spheres of influence illustration (below) to prompt ideas for taking action—whether at home, in workplaces, or in civic spaces. You can find this illustration in the En-ROADS Workshop slide deck.
Source: The Guardian (2017). Illustration: Elise Amel.
If you’ve created regional resources or adaptations, we’d love to see them! Feel free to share them at support@climateinteractive.org.