Climate Simulations: The Flight Plan for a Resilient Planet
Climate Simulations: The Flight Plan for a Resilient Planet
by Ellie Johnston, Climate Interactive Director of Engagement
Just as a fighter pilot cannot afford to make mistakes in the cockpit of an F-16 jet, we cannot afford to make mistakes in scaling up solutions to climate change. This is where simulations come in, flight simulators for fighter pilots and climate simulators for people facing climate change. After all, we’ve only got one planet to work with.
Our reflexive approach to motivating people to take climate action is often to inundate people with scientific information. But as MIT Professor and Climate Interactive advisor John Sterman puts it,
“research shows that showing people research doesn’t work.”
Study after study has highlighted the limitations of what is known as the information-deficit model of communication and social change, whereby a lack of information is the main obstacle to taking action, which can be alleviated by simply listening to experts.
Our team at Climate Interactive has a different approach. Working with the MIT Sloan Sustainability Initiative, we develop transparent, publicly accessible climate models that enable people to experiment, test their assumptions, and create scenarios to address climate change. Would nuclear fusion save the climate if there were a breakthrough in the next 10 years? What if we planted 1 trillion trees? What if we did both? Our En-ROADS Climate Solutions Simulator gives people real-time, scientifically rigorous feedback about whether their ideas about addressing climate change are sufficient or not.
Like a pilot’s flight simulator, climate simulations offer an opportunity to test and refine strategies in a safe and controlled environment. They provide a space for policymakers to experiment with different policies and evaluate their potential impacts before implementing them in the real world. This iterative approach allows for evidence-based decision-making, reducing the risks associated with hasty or ineffective interventions or costly delays.
We have pioneered approaches to creating group workshops and role-playing experiences for people to learn together and cultivate shared understanding. In one type of event, the Climate Action Simulation, we ask people to play decision-makers from energy companies, governments, and civil society that have been convened by the UN to come up with a global plan to achieve the Paris Climate Agreement targets. Participants then work together to propose and test different actions in the En-ROADS simulator. The key thing in the experience is that participants are both engaging with the computer simulator and with each other through debate and dialogue by playing a role outside of their normal day-to-day experience.
But does it work? Is using a simulation to understand climate change more effective than something like a lecture or documentary? A study of our tools published in the journal PLOS One showed that participants who engaged with a climate simulation exercise, including free-market proponents and people who knew and cared little about climate change before participating, had an increased sense of urgency about climate change, a desire to learn more, and a marked increase in intention to take action. Another study of Climate Action Simulation participants found that they were more likely to support climate-friendly policies and express a greater willingness to contribute personally to mitigating climate change.
Simulations have the power to transcend traditional barriers and engage a diverse range of stakeholders. Policymakers, business leaders, and community members can all participate in simulations, fostering dialogue, collaboration, and the exploration of innovative solutions. With the En-ROADS simulator, we have reached over 125 US Congress members and over 3,500 business leaders including executives of leading corporations across a wide range of sectors.
US House Representative John Curtis, a Republican from Utah, said:
“What I like about En-ROADS is how it can support a really thoughtful conversation— I can see the ways that policy actions could be worth the pain.”
In our world where thoughtful conversation in politics feels scarce, anything that can break through the noise is important to prioritize.
There are over 650 trained facilitators of En-ROADS events worldwide—contact us to bring an En-ROADS event to your boardroom, government agency, or conference. Or join us to become a trained facilitator yourself by enrolling in our free training program.
🍿 The Lean Back
Learn about Sense in the latest Pique Action film.
📢 Climate Action of the Week
Sign up for the next Climate Changemakers Hour of Action here.
Diesel buses are heavy polluters and health hazards, but over 90% of America’s school buses still run on diesel. The EPA is awarding $400 million in grants for electric buses this year, meaning school districts can start to electrify their fleets—for free. Contact your mayor and city council member to let them know about the opportunity and ask them to help spread the word.
👩💻 Climate Jobs
For more open positions, check out the #j-climatejobs channel in MCJ Slack as well as our MCJ Job Board.
Technology Manager and Scientist III - Electrochemist at Air Company (Brooklyn, NY)
A.I. Data Quality Control Technician at AMP Robotics (Remote/US)
Sustainability Operations Manager at Climate Club (Remote)
Forestry Operations Manager (Remote) and Operations Coordinator (Bay Area, CA) at Living Carbon
Technical Program Manager - Manufacturing and Product Manager - Mobile Experience at Mill (San Bruno, CA)
Head of Product (London, England, UK) and Chief of Staff (Berlin, Germany) at Opna (formerly SALT)
Software Engineering Manager and Software Engineer at Running Tide (Remote)
Electrochemical Test Engineer at Twelve (Berkeley, CA)
Senior Software Engineer - Full Stack at Weavegrid (Remote/Bay Area)
✨ Community Highlights
🗓 June - July Events
Click the event title for details & RSVP info. For more climate events, check out the #c-events channel in MCJ Slack.
💰 AMA: Jacqueline van den Ende - Carbon Equity: Jacqueline was our first guest on Jason’s Capital Series and we’re honored that she’s taking the time to answer YOUR questions in the MCJ AMA slack channel for 24 hours. If you missed the episode, be sure to listen and get your questions ready. Event starts Wednesday, June 28 at 12pm PST - 3pm EST - 8pm BST - 9pm CET. Details here.
📊 Women in Data x Climate Workgroup - Journal Club: We've been listening intently to our members' feedback, and we're following the unanimous request to discuss a technical paper. Check out the selection here. (6/29)
🇬🇧 MCJ London x BeZero x Patch: Carbon Markets - A View of the Future Showcase: We'll be looking ahead to the future of carbon markets by digging deep into challenges facing the supply side, demand side and intermediary organisations today, scoping what steps we need to take as an industry over the next few years, and brainstorming how different stakeholders can lean in further and get involved. Join us at BeZero’s HQ on Thursday, July 13. Details here.
💡 Monthly Idea Jam - Consumer Behavior x Climate: These sessions provide a chance for MCJ members to get help with roadblocks, meet co-founders or future employees, connect with investors, or people working on similar topics. For people just listening in, these sessions may spark your own ideas, and in the process enable you to meet others. (7/14)
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The narrative must be changed. Climate change, although it has created a more recent sense of urgency to save our planet and our way of life, has become too political and the science can be easily challenged which paralyzes governments and big business. What is difficult to argue is the objective truth that we can be better stewards of our planet. Governments and big business must take a holistic approach and chip away on all environmental issues with more focus and earnest so that it becomes second nature for all that we can and must to do better by the planet. The mantra needs to be clean the air, water and land for the benefit of all species. It’s long overdue that we realized climate change is a pill not everyone will agree to swallow. Take smaller steps and and join forces with the media to regain the public’s enthusiasm about doing the right thing. It’s good business if the world’s economies take better, bigger, bolder steps together. Global consumerism and greed can still exist but we need to all agree to slow down and start taking better care of our planet. The necessary changes to become better stewards of our world may not be more profitable or creates more shareholder value in the short-term but it will certainly make the planet more livable for the long term. Climate change is to broad a term for people to universally get behind. Make the focus about cleaning up one piece at a time as part of a unified global agenda to clean up the planet and save ourselves from ourselves before the damage becomes to great.