The World Climate Simulation game has been run by people of all backgrounds and skill sets. With a little preparation you can lead a highly engaging exercise to enable people to explore what is needed to address the climate challenge.
Want to learn how to run the Climate Action Simulation? Be sure to explore our World Climate training plan.
Materials for Facilitators
World Climate Facilitator Guide – Learn how to lead the simulation with this instruction manual that walks you through key concepts in running World Climate, from preparation and room setup, to sample scripts and debrief techniques.
Presentation Slides – Present these slides to your participants, which include role-play instructions, background information, and data on climate impacts.
Supplemental Slides – Pick and choose from these additional slides to include in your presentation.
C-ROADS Simulator – Download or use the online version of our computer simulator designed specifically to support running World Climate and determine the impact from the pledges that participants put forward.
Playing the Game Online?
Tips for Facilitating an Online Event – Explore our tips on leading a virtual version of the World Climate Simulation game using an online platform.
Use this Online Worksheet to assign your participants roles ahead of time, provide their briefing sheets, and virtual backgrounds. We recommend “copy and pasting” the contents of this sheet to your own version so that you can edit and share with your participants.
Supplemental Slides for Zoom Mechanics – Add these slides to your slide deck if you are presenting the World Climate Simulation online using Zoom to help orient participants to the Zoom software controls.
Online Proposal Forms – Copy and paste the contents of this online excel sheet to your own to use to keep track of team proposals throughout the simulation.
Materials to Provide to Participants
Quick Download – includes briefing materials, proposal forms, and table labels. 3-Region & 6-Region.
Briefing Statements – To provide background information used to orient participants in a World Climate Simulation to their assigned roles. You can choose to use the 3 region or the 6 region briefings based on the size of your group and the time allotted. The 3 region version is good for small groups (6-18 people) or for large events with less time, whereas the 6 region version enables greater engagement by all participants. There are also additional briefing statements if you want to include even more roles.
3 Region
6 Region
Additional Groups
Proposal Form – To be handed out to each group in order for participants to demonstrate their proposed actions.
Table Cards – To print and place on tables to identify each group. 3-region & 6-region.
We are currently researching the impact of World Climate on audiences and trying to better understand how it could be improved for facilitators. Will you help us out by participating in this research?
Additional Materials
Readings & Tips:
Tips for running World Climate with children – as young as 7-8 years old.
Tips for running World Climate with younger people – how to run World Climate with 10-17 year olds.
Tips for running World Climate with large groups – how to run World Climate with groups as large as 100, 400 etc.
World Climate: A Role-Play Simulation of Global Climate Negotiations – paper in Simulation and Gaming that explains the game and insights audiences can gain.
C-ROADS Reference Guide – contains the purpose, structure, assumptions, and testing results of the simulator.
Climate interactive: the C-ROADS climate policy model – paper in System Dynamics Review that describes the structure and calibration of C-ROADS, as well as how it is used by UNFCCC parties.
Management Flight Simulators to Support Climate Negotiations – paper in Environmental Modelling and Software that further discusses the need for and use of the C-ROADS model.
Optional handouts:
Agreement Template – printable “official” agreement that participants sign to formalize the commitments they make through the exercise.
Data Table – printed handout giving background data on 3 or 6 regions. Available in French.
Temperature Risks – printed handout that further details effects of temperature increase.
Vocabulary List – vocabulary to help middle school students understand concepts in the briefing papers, written by the parent of a 7th grader.
C-ROADS Homework Exercise – A two-page worksheet appropriate for independent homework or an in-workshop exercise. Guides someone through connecting to C-ROADS World Climate, creating a “vision” scenario of success, and reflecting on the implications of the future that has been imagined. Also available as a Word document.
Exercise support:
World Climate Flyer – flyer template for advertising an event. Other versions available in French and German.
World Climate in 20 minutes – guide for running a World Climate game in just 20 minutes.
REDD+ Calculator – spreadsheet to calculate the global average values for deforestation and afforestation parameters from delegates’ policies. Available in French.
Participants Breakout Calculator – spreadsheet showing how to divide your group so they match global demographics. Available in French.
Compounded Emissions Decline – spreadsheet showing compounded emissions decline over time for different annual rates of decline.
Suggested Simulation Timelines – breakdown to guide you through each stage of your World Climate event whether you are holding it for 1 hour, 1.5 hours, 2-2.5 hours, or 3 hours.