Combining role-play with interactive simulation to motivate informed climate action: Evidence from the World Climate...

Area of Science:

• Climate Change Communication
• Environmental Psychology
• Simulation-Based Learning

Background:

• Traditional information deficit models fail to bridge the gap in public understanding of climate change.
• Simulations offer a novel approach for self-directed learning on complex environmental issues.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the impact of the World Climate simulation on participants' knowledge, affective engagement, and motivation regarding climate change.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of a role-playing simulation combined with a climate model for climate change education.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of pre- and post-survey data from over 2,000 participants across 39 World Climate sessions in eight nations.
• Utilizing the C-ROADS climate simulation model to provide immediate feedback on policy decisions within a role-playing negotiation framework.

Main Results:

• Statistically significant improvements in climate change knowledge, including causes, dynamics, and impacts.
• Demonstrated increases in affective engagement, such as heightened feelings of urgency and hope.
• Observed a greater desire to learn more and take action, particularly linked to increased urgency, not just knowledge gains.

Conclusions:

• The World Climate simulation effectively enhances climate change literacy and emotional engagement, fostering a motivation for action.
• Simulation-based learning, integrating role-play and climate modeling, proves more effective than traditional communication methods.
• The tool shows potential for bipartisan impact, engaging individuals across the political spectrum, including those skeptical of climate science or regulation.