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Provided by: Earth Sciences New Zealand |Published on: November 17, 2025
Games
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Synopsis
In this game from NIWA, students will play as characters in a coastal community and make decisions about adaptation measures to protect their home and community.
Students will play 10 rounds of the game, each representing 10 years of climate change at either a high emissions or low emissions rate.
This game goes by rather quickly, allowing for extension and discussion in one class period.
The game only allows for a few options, so students are unlikely to be overwhelmed by choice.
Prerequisites
Students should understand how carbon emissions influence climate change, which, in turn, impacts sea level rise and extreme weather.
Differentiation & Implementation
After playing through a game, teachers can have students who were given a low emissions future pair up with students who were given a high emissions future. Students can discuss how their games were different based on their emissions.
After playing, the class can discuss what measures need to be taken to ensure a low-emissions future. Advanced students may enjoy using this simulator to explore how different solutions can reduce emissions.
Teachers can make connections to the Sustainable Development Goals, especially SDG 9, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, and SDG 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities.
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