Climate Change the Board Game

Game Pieces from this project are available. Click on the link.

Even if you think you know about Climate Change...

A unique type of game

It is too late to win the struggle. This game's object is to not entirely lose.

If you are not thinking about how your choices are changing our world, you are not fully aware of the consequences of every action. Nearly 8 billion people use and waste precious resources every minute of every day. This game helps you to see those consequences and provides alternatives.

You are fighting for your life and your biosphere

The game is set for 4 players or teams -- no more, no less. Balancing resources is hard enough without altering population. In that sense it is unrealistic. Do what you can to maintain resources for your personal survival while keeping the planet habitable.

How the game is structured

A world thermometer steadily increases with every round. This is due to the amount of greenhouse gases already in the system. If nothing changes, the game ends in 20 rounds and 20 steps up in temperature. TEOTWAWKI is the top step: The End Of The World As We Know It. Everyone loses. This end is not inevitable.

There are cards and actions that can raise or lower temperature. Some occur outside the players' ability, and some are directed by the player(s). You decide when and how much you are willing to pay.

Throughout, your personal survival is on the line. You can independently lose if you do not have the necessary survival cards by the end of the game. It is a real-life struggle between personal life-style choices and global stability.

Why can't I win?

I am narrowly defining the meaning of "win". Look at the irreversible impacts to plant and animal species as habitats change. Extinction is permanent. Have you noticed an increase in Climate Change related news? Are you aware of record setting weather events nearly daily somewhere in the world? To "win" we should have weaned ourselves from fossil fuels decades ago. It will get worse, but it could stabilize or reverse with enough proper action. DON'T GIVE UP! Future generations will exist and will need us to set a restorative path.

This game will provide some tools and understanding of fighting for our environment. You will learn from other players about their fears, hopes and plans. This game elicits discussion.

About this project

Intent

Nearly four years ago, I thought there must be a means to demonstrate the crisis in a manner that could both frighten people into action yet provide solutions. This game can accomplish that.

Process

Over many iterations, this final product was published on a small scale of 250 games. I chose a sustainable production, cooperative printer in California. The game is manufactured without use of plastic parts. All the tokens were made by me using plaster. These were attempts to be consistent with the game's save-our-planet lifestyle proselytizing...putting my money where my mouth is, in effect.

Next Steps

This small, local run of games has cost me more money per game than I can hope to recoup. It is a type of activism that fits my skills and personality best (though not my bank account). If there develops enough interest, a larger production will only be possible through outside funding. The lessons of sustainable manufacturing have to be valued even with a higher monetary cost. However, I have made my last plaster token! Next run could be ceramic, pressed paper or another idea.