En-ROADS Climate Workshop

July 22, 2020 By Bindu Bhandari

It’s been just over half a year since we launched the En-ROADS climate solutions simulator publicly at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25) in Madrid. It took little time for people to pick up En-ROADS and spread it globally to engage people in meaningful conversations around climate change. As of June 2020, 939 En-ROADS events had been held in 56 countries globally. These events mobilized nearly twenty-five thousand participants. The highest numbers of events have been facilitated in the United States, followed by Canada, Germany, Argentina, and Spain. While En-ROADS – our newest tool – has gained the headlines, our long-standing C-ROADS simulator widely known for its use in the World Climate Simulation is still popular, and sometimes even coupled with En-ROADS.

Alongside this growth and impact, our team at Climate Interactive is thrilled to observe the diversity of our facilitators and the audiences coming from all walks of life – professors, business leaders, activists, entrepreneurs, civil society leaders, and beyond. It was our first virtual World Climate Simulation event! At the back of our minds, we kept wondering, what if some participants are unable to join because of a slow internet connection? What if some had never used Zoom before and signing in will be a challenge? What if very few participants attend? We were concerned. However, we were prepared and we were excited.

Among the different ways people are using En-ROADS, events registered suggest that the En-ROADS Climate Workshop is the most popular.

We have held two rounds of the Mastering En-ROADS trainings series this year. These trainings provided a deep-dive into the En-ROADS simulator dynamics along and tips on facilitating events with En-ROADS. Many participants of this training have gone on to become En-ROADS Climate Ambassadors who are a dedicated network of facilitators that are running events all over the world. As of now, our ambassadors come from 35 countries and are facilitating En-ROADS events in 23 languages. 34 of our En-ROADS Climate Ambassadors have facilitated 5 or more events among which the highest recorded number of events is 28 by our ambassador Florian Kapmeier from Germany.

In spite of all the disruptions from COVID-19, the En-ROADS Climate Ambassador network has seen steady growth this year. These Ambassadors have mobilized a significant number of En-ROADS event participants.

22july2020 Enroads Participants By Leads Graph

Comparing the last half of 2019 with the first half of 2020, we saw a 3-fold increase in the number of participants in our online training webinars and workshops. More than 2,000 people participated in the two Mastering En-ROADS trainings series this year.

Overall, En-ROADS has been a tool to empower, engage, and inspire climate action in all kinds of innovative ways. We look forward to so much more in the months and years ahead!

Screen Shot 2020 05 07 At 11.01.34 Am 1 — *A screenshot from the En-ROADS Ambassadors Call in May 2020*

May 12, 2020 By Bindu Bhandari

Green Africa Youth Organization (GAYO) has been delivering C-ROADS simulations across universities and corporate institutions in Ghana for the past 3 years. Following the launch of the new En-ROADS simulator by Climate Interactive in 2019, we are pleased to have organized our first climate simulation in partnership with Sustainability Week Accra.

The first-ever sustainability week in Ghana was held at the University of Ghana, Legon from 2 March 2020 to 6 March 2020. The week-long event included programs ranging from clothing donations to tree planting exercises and presentations. As part of the presentations, there was an En-ROADS simulation workshop held on 5 March 2020 facilitated by Isaac Abugri from Green Africa Youth Organization with about 25 to 30 participants. The workshop started with Isaac explaining the dynamics involved in the En-ROADS simulator to participants followed by two rounds of interactive sessions amongst participants.

The participants were then given 5 minutes to think of actions they have taken in the past month to help in the fight against climate change and reducing global temperature. Their responses included, beach clean-up exercises, planting trees, walking to and from lectures instead of taking taxis, efficient use of electricity by switching off electrical appliances when not using them, etc. These solutions were tested in the simulator and this reduced global temperature from 4.1 degrees to 2.4 degrees.

En-ROADS Workshop in Ghana — *A section of participant during the first round of deliberation*

At this point, participants were happy to know that their solutions, if applied worldwide, will have a positive effect in reducing global temperature since we are thinking globally but acting locally. This was evident in the expression on their faces to know that they were on the right path to help reduce global temperature.

In the next round where participants were asked to think of solutions, aside what they have done already, that will help reduce global temperature further to below 2 degrees, they came out with solutions which included, Carbon pricing, reduction in the use of coal and encouraging the use of more renewables. One suggestion that stirred up more conversation was when one participant suggested less economic growth as a way of reducing global temperature. This she explained that when there is less economic growth, there will be less demand for coal and oil as citizens will not have the capability to buy vehicles, mobile phones and other luxuries which use more oil and coal in the manufacture and use of components.

*Participants engaged in another round of deliberation*

Other participants came out with counter-arguments and one could feel the desire and passion from the participants as they gave their individual opinions on the matter. For me as a facilitator, I also learned a lot from the participants and seeing that there are others who are also in the fight against climate change gave me hope for a better future.

*A participant making a submission on what could be done to further reduce global temperature*

*Isaac Abugri explaining some dynamics of En-ROADS to participants*

After all was said and done, we tested the final solutions on the simulator and we were able to further reduce global temperature to 1.6 degrees. This is what some participants had to say after they suggested that this can be achieved with collaborative efforts rather than individual efforts:

“I feel very happy to know that my efforts, no matter how small is a positive approach to combating climate change.”

Another participant said:

“En-ROADS is an amazing simulator and should be used widely in schools so students can feel they are part of the fight against climate change.”

En-ROADS Impacts: A Closer Look at the Numbers of Participants, Ambassadors, and More!

En-ROADS Workshop held in Ghana for Sustainability Week Accra