For running interactive En-ROADS events and gathering input from participants, we typically use an external polling software called Poll Everywhere. Anyone can create a free account, though there are some limitations, such as the number of responses each poll can accept. 


Besides Poll Everywhere, there are several other options, some of which offer more features in their free versions. Here are a few we found through a web search:


You may also want to check if your meeting platform includes a built-in polling feature. For example, Zoom offers polls that you can prepare in advance of your meeting. 


When should you use polling software? 

Polling software works well for online events with audiences of more than ~50 people. For smaller online events, the chat function usually suffices to collect participant input. For large in-person events, such as conferences, polling software can also be a great way to allow participants to vote live. 


What are the main polls we use at our En-ROADS events? 

Below are some of the questions we typically ask, which you can adapt or use directly in your chosen polling software:


  • I am _____________ about climate change [one word or several-hyphenated-words]
    • For questions like this one we like using the word cloud question type, and so we ask respondents to hyphenate if they use several words.
    • We typically ask this question at both the beginning and the end of the event to observe how participants’ emotions and feelings about climate change evolve.
  • Which of these impacts concern you the most? 
    • In the options, we include the name of the Impact graphs included in En-ROADS (e.g., Sea-level rise). 
  • What climate approaches would you like to test? 
    • In the options we provide solutions across the 19 En-ROADS sliders. 
  • What do you think this scenario's 2100 temperature will be after moving this slider? 
    • In the options we provide temperature ranges (3.0-3.3°C, 2.9-2.6°C, 2.5-2.0°C, Below 2°C) 
  • What are the equity considerations related to this policy? 
  • What are some co-benefits of implementing this policy? 
  • In what ways could implementation of this policy harm communities? 
  • What would you love about being part of a world on track to making this scenario happen? 
  • How are you feeling? [one word or several-hyphenated-words] 
  • What actions will you take?


If you are using Poll Everywhere, here is a link to download a spreadsheet to easily replicate our polls. To upload them, access polleverwhere.com and follow the instructions on the image below. 



Have other suggestions? 

If there are other polling platforms that you find useful in using En-ROADS, or if you would like to share your experiences with a platform, reach out to us at [email protected].