Simulation Game "Climate Neutral City"

It’s getting warmer every year. As we humans make ever more use of fossil fuels, cut down forests and practise intensive agriculture, we are changing the climate: more heat waves and droughts, melting glaciers, rising sea levels.

Participants in the “Climate Neutral City” simulation game competition slip into the role of mayor, a member of “Fridays for Future” or head of the tourism office of the invented city Fonta for the duration of the game. Invited by the mayor, representatives of different interest groups gather at a “Round table” in order to negotiate and to decide about possible measurements on how to reduce the city’s CO2 emissions by half by 2030, based on a fixed budget. It aims to become “climate neutral” and no longer emit any CO2, thus helping to stop global warming. To reach this goal, the players must decide on the steps to take and ultimately achieve a result by working together.

At the end of the simulation game, the commission will present the results and record the presentation in a three-minute video.

It makes sense to implement the simulation game as part of a project day or project week.

The simulation game is played on a PC or tablet using browser-based software. The participants can both discuss and negotiate face to face when at school or, when at home, use a video conferencing tool (e.g., Zoom) to exchange information during the game.

 

A simulation game is an exciting didactic teaching and learning format. It facilitates experiential learning, which is considered as particularly sustainable – and it’s also fun. The core of a simulation game is a real or fictitious challenge. Participants examine key topic-related questions from different perspectives, and learn both how difficult and how important it is to take different interests into account and work out compromises. As the outcome of the game is not predetermined, participants can look for different solutions, while putting their negotiation skills to the test and making decisions. They thus experience and shape challenges rather than merely talking ABOUT them.

• promote constructive handling of conflicts
• strengthen opinion-forming and debate skills
• contribute to democracy education
• motivate to social commitment –
• deepen knowledge about climate change

Up to 15 - 30 students; from at least 15 years of age (3rd Year). Ideal age group is 4th – 6th Years. Smaller student groups are also invited to apply – the game will be played by multiple groups coming together.

The simulation game lasts 4.5 hours including a break.

The simulation game can take place at the Goethe-Institut or at your school. The game can also be played online.

The information on the platform is available in German or English.
The discussion can take place in German or English, and the video at the end can be filmed in either German or English.
The simulation game can also be conducted as a cross-curricular project combining the subjects CSPE, SPHE, geography, history, sciences, German and English.

A stable internet connection, laptops, tablets or PCs (ideally one per student), ideally a projector.

Participation in the simulation game costs 350 EUR (or €12 per student). The cost includes access to the platform as well as facilitation and technical support (on-site at the Goethe-Institut, your school or online) in running the game. Schools can also apply for a scholarship to cover the cost – send an email to german-dublin@goethe.de with an explanation.