Learning Goals
- Explore and evaluate the climate impact of various lifestyle and policy decisions
- Understand how individual choices create carbon footprints
- Reflect on low-carbon futures by making informed choices in housing, mobility, food, and governance
- Recognize the role of government policy in shaping energy transitions
- Understand how individual choices create carbon footprints
- Reflect on low-carbon futures by making informed choices in housing, mobility, food, and governance
- Recognize the role of government policy in shaping energy transitions
Description
### Preparation
- Prepare one game board per 3-5 participants
- Organize lifestyle bricks (housing, transport, food, lifestyle choices) into sets
- Prepare policy intervention cards organized and ready to distribute at step C
- Have fact sheets available for reference during gameplay
- Set up workspace with clear play areas for each group
- Prepare timer for each phase
### A. Introduction to Lifestyle Choices (5 minutes)
Facilitator shows the lifestyle bricks and names the categories to illustrate instructions.
**Facilitator Script:**
> "We're going to explore how lifestyle choices and policy decisions impact both your individual carbon footprint and broader systemic outcomes at the state level. Using brick cards—each representing the CO2 intensity (measured in tons) of different categories—you'll discuss your current choices and agree what you would choose if you would live together in a flat share."
**Categories demonstrated:**
- Housing (apartment vs. detached, heating source, insulation)
- Transport (car, public transit, cycling, walking)
- Food (meat-heavy, mixed, vegetarian, local)
- Lifestyle choices (flying frequency, consumption patterns, energy use at home)
**Facilitation Question:**
> "Are there any questions before we start?"
---
### B. Lifestyle Choices Phase (15 minutes)
Participants discuss their current choices and agree what they would collectively choose if living together.
**Prompt to participants:**
> "You are living together as flatmates. What would your shared household look like? Discuss your preferences and reach agreement on:
> - Where you live and how you heat your home
> - How each of you gets around (transport)
> - What you eat together
> - Other lifestyle choices about energy use and consumption"
**Facilitation Tips:**
- Move between groups to answer questions
- Encourage realistic discussion and compromise
- Help groups understand the carbon implications of each choice
- Note interesting dynamics and decisions for debrief
- Ensure all group members participate in decisions
**Measurement:**
- Groups calculate or estimate their total household carbon footprint
- Facilitate comparison between groups if desired
- Discuss what surprised them
---
### C. Government Intervention Cards Phase (5 minutes)
Facilitator shows and explains the government intervention cards.
**Facilitator Script:**
> "The government can support the increase or reduction of energy use and carbon emissions with policy interventions like subsidies, taxes, and laws. Look at these cards, see and discuss the effect they have on your footprint as a household."
**Example Interventions:**
- Renewable energy subsidies (reduce energy costs)
- Carbon tax on flights (increase transport costs)
- Vehicle tax incentives for electric cars
- Food subsidies (affecting food prices)
- Building renovation grants
- Public transport expansion
**Facilitation:**
- Show each card and explain the mechanism
- Let groups think about how it affects their household
- Answer clarifying questions
**Facilitation Question:**
> "Are there any questions before you start?"
---
### D. Presentation and Reflection (15 minutes)
Groups present their future scenarios and reflect on the role of policy.
**Prompt:**
> "Now you present your future scenario to the other groups. Tell us:
> - How big is your carbon footprint now?
> - How does it differ from your current lifestyle choices?
> - What role did policy cards play in your decisions?
> - What compromises or debates happened in your group?"
**Presentation Structure:**
- Each group presents for 3-5 minutes
- Other groups can ask clarifying questions
- Document key information on a board for comparison
**Reflection Questions:**
- Which policy interventions were most effective?
- What was the hardest choice to make?
- Did policy interventions create fairness or unfairness?
- How realistic are these scenarios?
---
### E. Facilitated Discussion (5-10 minutes)
Moderate broader reflection on systems and change:
**Discussion Prompts:**
- "What did you learn about the relationship between individual choices and policy?"
- "Is it fair to rely only on individual choices to fight climate change?"
- "What role do corporations play compared to governments?"
- "What would motivate you to make these changes in real life?"
---
## Key Learning Points to Highlight
- Individual lifestyle choices have measurable carbon impacts
- Government policies shape what choices are available and affordable
- Systemic change requires both individual action and policy support
- Different people prioritize different areas (mobility vs. food vs. housing)
- Low-carbon futures are achievable with the right policies and investments
## Why This Method Works
- Game format makes complex systems engaging and fun
- Hands-on brick manipulation makes abstract concepts tangible
- Group negotiation builds collaboration and communication skills
- Policy intervention component shows systemic change possibilities
- Participants see their own values reflected in gameplay
- Creates memorable learning about carbon footprints
## Modifications
- **Include country-specific policy cards:** Add actual or proposed policies from participants' countries for local relevance
- **Add advanced policy tools:** Budget constraints, policy trade-offs, unintended consequences
- **Extend timeframe:** Multiple rounds showing 5-year, 10-year, 2050 progressions
- **Include equity lens:** Track carbon savings vs. cost to different income groups
- **Competitive element:** Track which group achieves deepest cuts most efficiently
- **Online adaptation:** Use digital game boards and shared spreadsheets
## Difficulty Variations
- **Beginner level:** Simpler choices, focus on household decisions, fewer policy options
- **Intermediate:** Current game as described
- **Advanced:** Add budget constraints, economic impacts, policy conflicts, competing goals
## Notes for Facilitator
Recent research shows we learn much faster with games than with conventional learning. Games help overcome complexity. Freedom to make decisions in the group is essential to achieve learning goals, so do not intervene too heavily in group processes.
- Allow groups autonomy in their decisions even if you think they're "wrong"
- Focus on the thinking process, not the outcome
- Use group diversity (different values, backgrounds) as a strength
- Create psychological safety—this is about exploring, not judging
- Keep groups on time with gentle time warnings
- Be prepared to answer factual questions about emissions data and policies
- Link findings to real-world climate policy debates
- Close on an empowering note about the power of combined action
## Standalone vs. Integrated Use
- **Standalone:** 70-minute method focusing on carbon footprints and policy
- **Integrated with Module 2:** Follows Energy Experiments (Method 2.2) to deepen understanding
- **Bridge to Module 3:** Connects energy choices to climate justice concerns
- **Bridge to Module 4:** Shows how policy is negotiated and implemented
- Prepare one game board per 3-5 participants
- Organize lifestyle bricks (housing, transport, food, lifestyle choices) into sets
- Prepare policy intervention cards organized and ready to distribute at step C
- Have fact sheets available for reference during gameplay
- Set up workspace with clear play areas for each group
- Prepare timer for each phase
### A. Introduction to Lifestyle Choices (5 minutes)
Facilitator shows the lifestyle bricks and names the categories to illustrate instructions.
**Facilitator Script:**
> "We're going to explore how lifestyle choices and policy decisions impact both your individual carbon footprint and broader systemic outcomes at the state level. Using brick cards—each representing the CO2 intensity (measured in tons) of different categories—you'll discuss your current choices and agree what you would choose if you would live together in a flat share."
**Categories demonstrated:**
- Housing (apartment vs. detached, heating source, insulation)
- Transport (car, public transit, cycling, walking)
- Food (meat-heavy, mixed, vegetarian, local)
- Lifestyle choices (flying frequency, consumption patterns, energy use at home)
**Facilitation Question:**
> "Are there any questions before we start?"
---
### B. Lifestyle Choices Phase (15 minutes)
Participants discuss their current choices and agree what they would collectively choose if living together.
**Prompt to participants:**
> "You are living together as flatmates. What would your shared household look like? Discuss your preferences and reach agreement on:
> - Where you live and how you heat your home
> - How each of you gets around (transport)
> - What you eat together
> - Other lifestyle choices about energy use and consumption"
**Facilitation Tips:**
- Move between groups to answer questions
- Encourage realistic discussion and compromise
- Help groups understand the carbon implications of each choice
- Note interesting dynamics and decisions for debrief
- Ensure all group members participate in decisions
**Measurement:**
- Groups calculate or estimate their total household carbon footprint
- Facilitate comparison between groups if desired
- Discuss what surprised them
---
### C. Government Intervention Cards Phase (5 minutes)
Facilitator shows and explains the government intervention cards.
**Facilitator Script:**
> "The government can support the increase or reduction of energy use and carbon emissions with policy interventions like subsidies, taxes, and laws. Look at these cards, see and discuss the effect they have on your footprint as a household."
**Example Interventions:**
- Renewable energy subsidies (reduce energy costs)
- Carbon tax on flights (increase transport costs)
- Vehicle tax incentives for electric cars
- Food subsidies (affecting food prices)
- Building renovation grants
- Public transport expansion
**Facilitation:**
- Show each card and explain the mechanism
- Let groups think about how it affects their household
- Answer clarifying questions
**Facilitation Question:**
> "Are there any questions before you start?"
---
### D. Presentation and Reflection (15 minutes)
Groups present their future scenarios and reflect on the role of policy.
**Prompt:**
> "Now you present your future scenario to the other groups. Tell us:
> - How big is your carbon footprint now?
> - How does it differ from your current lifestyle choices?
> - What role did policy cards play in your decisions?
> - What compromises or debates happened in your group?"
**Presentation Structure:**
- Each group presents for 3-5 minutes
- Other groups can ask clarifying questions
- Document key information on a board for comparison
**Reflection Questions:**
- Which policy interventions were most effective?
- What was the hardest choice to make?
- Did policy interventions create fairness or unfairness?
- How realistic are these scenarios?
---
### E. Facilitated Discussion (5-10 minutes)
Moderate broader reflection on systems and change:
**Discussion Prompts:**
- "What did you learn about the relationship between individual choices and policy?"
- "Is it fair to rely only on individual choices to fight climate change?"
- "What role do corporations play compared to governments?"
- "What would motivate you to make these changes in real life?"
---
## Key Learning Points to Highlight
- Individual lifestyle choices have measurable carbon impacts
- Government policies shape what choices are available and affordable
- Systemic change requires both individual action and policy support
- Different people prioritize different areas (mobility vs. food vs. housing)
- Low-carbon futures are achievable with the right policies and investments
## Why This Method Works
- Game format makes complex systems engaging and fun
- Hands-on brick manipulation makes abstract concepts tangible
- Group negotiation builds collaboration and communication skills
- Policy intervention component shows systemic change possibilities
- Participants see their own values reflected in gameplay
- Creates memorable learning about carbon footprints
## Modifications
- **Include country-specific policy cards:** Add actual or proposed policies from participants' countries for local relevance
- **Add advanced policy tools:** Budget constraints, policy trade-offs, unintended consequences
- **Extend timeframe:** Multiple rounds showing 5-year, 10-year, 2050 progressions
- **Include equity lens:** Track carbon savings vs. cost to different income groups
- **Competitive element:** Track which group achieves deepest cuts most efficiently
- **Online adaptation:** Use digital game boards and shared spreadsheets
## Difficulty Variations
- **Beginner level:** Simpler choices, focus on household decisions, fewer policy options
- **Intermediate:** Current game as described
- **Advanced:** Add budget constraints, economic impacts, policy conflicts, competing goals
## Notes for Facilitator
Recent research shows we learn much faster with games than with conventional learning. Games help overcome complexity. Freedom to make decisions in the group is essential to achieve learning goals, so do not intervene too heavily in group processes.
- Allow groups autonomy in their decisions even if you think they're "wrong"
- Focus on the thinking process, not the outcome
- Use group diversity (different values, backgrounds) as a strength
- Create psychological safety—this is about exploring, not judging
- Keep groups on time with gentle time warnings
- Be prepared to answer factual questions about emissions data and policies
- Link findings to real-world climate policy debates
- Close on an empowering note about the power of combined action
## Standalone vs. Integrated Use
- **Standalone:** 70-minute method focusing on carbon footprints and policy
- **Integrated with Module 2:** Follows Energy Experiments (Method 2.2) to deepen understanding
- **Bridge to Module 3:** Connects energy choices to climate justice concerns
- **Bridge to Module 4:** Shows how policy is negotiated and implemented
Preparation
- Prepare one game board per 3-5 participants
- Organize lifestyle bricks (housing, transport, food, lifestyle choices) into sets
- Prepare policy intervention cards organized and ready to distribute at step C
- Have fact sheets available for reference during gameplay
- Set up workspace with clear play areas for each group
- Prepare timer for each phase
- Organize lifestyle bricks (housing, transport, food, lifestyle choices) into sets
- Prepare policy intervention cards organized and ready to distribute at step C
- Have fact sheets available for reference during gameplay
- Set up workspace with clear play areas for each group
- Prepare timer for each phase
Topics
CO₂ Footprint
Policy & Governance
Systems Thinking
Materials Needed
- Board game with bricks (one per 3-5 participants)<br /><br /><br />
- Policy intervention cards<br /><br /><br />
- Fact sheets on CO2 emissions data<br /><br /><br />
- Fact sheets on climate change and policies<br /><br /><br />
- Carbon footprint calculators<br /><br /><br />
- Fact sheets on solar energy, heating systems, and heat pumps
Contributor
INFORSE-Europe, Original by Energimuseet, Denmark