Back in the distant past, I did poorly in my A Level exams. Like many students I wasn’t engaged in the subjects I’d chosen and was distracted by the relative freedom being a young adult provided. There was, however, redemption in my General Studies qualification. Almost 40 years later I still remember one of the essay questions on the exam paper, “Why Do People Play Games?”. It was a dream as young Melody and her family were avid game players, the words flowed, and I gained a grade A which helped me scrape into university.
As I’ve grown older, I’ve realised life seems to be one long, complex, challenging, and occasionally infuriating game itself. Occasionally you’re winning but, more often than not, you’ll back a step or even feel like a loser.
Unrealistic goals: The games of life
My daughter used to love the Game of Life. To play you spin a wheel, select a blue or pink peg and move a little car around the board; you start by choosing college or career. You then set off down the road of life, making money, travelling and having babies. You experience various adventures until you get to retirement when you get a pile of toy banknotes and, if you’re the wealthiest player when it comes to the end of the game, you win!
For Hubster and I the game mirrors life well. We went to college, had relatively meaningful careers, travelled a bit, raised a couple of kids and are getting close to the point at which we can retire. Unfortunately, I’m far from convinced my daughter will have the same life experiences. She is studying for a degree, and she’ll become part of the workforce but is curbing her desire to have children or plans to travel as she understands the climate crisis is already here. It feels more like snakes and ladders than a career ladder.
Change the rules
The original Monopoly game, created in 1904, was designed to illustrate the negative aspects of concentrating land in private monopolies and was called “The Landlord’s Game”. It demonstrated how monopolies led to unfair advantages and economic inequality. It was a critique of capitalist practices and a way to promote economic reform.
The game we know as Monopoly evolved from this concept but promotes wealth creation ending with one person making ridiculous amounts of money and leaving the other players hawking properties to pay the latest bill. I dislike it intensely, but one solution is that, as soon as someone nudges into the lead, everyone else collaborates, shares resources and often ultimately win. We need to build the belief that a shared victory is as good, if not better, than one person getting it all.
Dodging meteors
When the dinosaurs roamed the Earth, they thrived for millions of years until there was a series of unfortunate events including a massive asteroid impact which would have caused immediate devastation and triggered long-term climate changes which disrupted ecosystems and food chains. The reason the dinosaurs eventually lost in the game of life was because they survived over eons, so a fatal asteroid impact was statistically likely to happen at some point.
Humans have only been around for around 300,000 years, a blink of an eye in geological terms. We were doing well until the Industrial Revolution when we started burning fossil fuels and it was only in the last couple of decades that billionaires became insanely wealthy on the backs of using both the planet and people as resources to exploit.
Climate change is inevitably now impacting every living organism on Earth. Obviously, there is always a chance that a specific location may avoid searing heat or flash floods, but the dice rolls are now becoming stacked against us. We will soon see the effects of the rain in Spain on empty shelves in our local supermarkets. If we manage to survive long enough, a meteor impact is likely to affect us too.
Games where everyone loses
For my lessons on Climate Change with Year 7 I’ve created a card-sort game of Climate Top Trumps (nope, this is not a reference to he who shall not be named) with 7 main stakeholders each with a different level of Climate Knowledge, Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Contributions, Power, Ramifications (i.e., how much they will be affected) and percentage of the population.
Each card comes with a description:
The Politician
Climate change is a growing issue, with differing commitments and strategies across the political parties. Labour emphasises action, aiming for net zero emissions by 2030 somehow balanced with continued economic growth. The Lib Dems and Greens advocate for rapid transitions to sustainable practices. Conservatives support incredibly slow climate action to avoid impacting the economy. Reform seems to suggest net zero is a scam.
Knowledge 4
GHG Contribution 6
Power 8
Ramifications 4
% of Population 0.1
The Climate Scientist
Climate scientists view climate change as an urgent, human-caused crisis requiring immediate action. They emphasise the need for drastic emission reductions, transitioning to renewable energy, and systemic changes. They highlight the overwhelming scientific consensus on global warming and advocate for policies to limit temperature rise and prevent catastrophic consequences to safeguard the planet for future generations.
Knowledge 10
GHG Contribution 3
Power 3
Ramifications 7
% of Population >0.1
The Billionaire
Some billionaires, like Musk, promote sustainable technologies such as electric vehicles whilst also supporting an ideal for the ultra-wealthy to get off planet to survive. Others are criticised for their high carbon footprints for their private jets and opulent lifestyles. Many have huge influence over the media and on social media platforms.
Knowledge 5
GHG Contribution 10
Power 10
Ramifications 2
% of Population 0.1
The UN Climate Lead
The UN sees climate change as an urgent crisis needing immediate action. It emphasises that current national plans are insufficient and call for rapid transitions away from fossil fuels. They stress the severe economic and human consequences without bold measures and highlight the critical need for global cooperation.
Knowledge 9
GHG Contribution 5
Power 3
Ramifications 6
% of Population >0.1%
A Climate Activist
A climate activist sees climate change as an urgent, existential threat demanding immediate action. They advocate for drastic reductions in carbon emissions, widespread adoption of renewable energy, and systemic changes to achieve climate justice. Frustrated by inaction from governments and corporations, they often engage in protests, campaigns, and educational efforts to raise awareness and push for policy changes.
Knowledge 9
GHG Contribution 2
Power 4
Ramifications 8
% of Population 0.1
Average Child
A child might see climate change as a big, scary problem that adults need to fix quickly. They might be worried about animals losing their homes, more extreme weather, and the future of their planet. They know they can help by recycling, saving energy, and protecting nature. They’re hopeful and believe everyone should help to make a difference, from reducing waste to planting trees. Climate change is about saving their future and the world they love.
Knowledge 5
GHG Contribution 1
Power 3
Ramifications 10
% of Population 25
An Average Person
Most adults are concerned by climate change but might feel unsure about how to make a significant impact and could feel overwhelmed by the scale of the problem or seem apathetic. Many acknowledge the need for action but balance this with daily life priorities and convenience. They may be influenced by personal experience, politics or (mis)information in the media. Almost all adults have never received formal training in the climate crisis or how to live sustainably.
Knowledge 5
GHG Contribution 3
Power 2
Ramifications 8
% of Population 75
When Class 7D played the game, they found the Billionaire usually wins as they have the power and the biggest emissions, the Climate Scientist has the most climate knowledge and the average person and children make up the biggest proportion of the world’s population (~8 billion of us). In the real world, if socio-political and environmental collapse happens then, although the billionaires may fare best in either outer space or their bunkers, everyone ultimately loses.
How to win games
What point am I trying to make? Well, in our own game of life the odds are increasingly stacked against us and the longer we let Big Oil make the rules the more we, and most importantly our children, will lose. So, how can we weight the dice? The chance of an individual becoming a billionaire and changing the system through immense power is infinitesimally small. So, the only alternative is that we work together.
I like what the Climate Majority Project is doing. It’s a non-political initiative aiming to accelerate citizen climate action and drive systemic change. The project emphasises the power of collective action, encouraging people from all walks of life to take meaningful steps towards addressing climate change to show governments and industries that a majority of people demand serious climate action. The sooner we act the better, leaving it too late will mean a hollow victory as there will be no prize to win. In short, we need to organise to thrive. May the odds be ever in your favour.
Note to self: Ask Mr S if he wants some climate games for Games Club. In Daybreak players work together to stop climate change, Climate Dice can inspire discussions about sustainability, and in Climate Evolution, players adapt their species in a dynamic ecosystem where food is scarce, predators lurk, and the climate changes.
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