Can playing a board game work to exercise our climate problem-solving abilities? By Collective Member Lachlan Campbell.
This was the question that the members of Act on Climate sought to answer at the Collingwood library on Saturday the 18th of April.
Our collective was joined by enthusiastic community members to play The Adaptation Game (TAG): A game that leads its players through a potential future for the City of Yarra, encouraging communal approaches in navigating destructive climate shocks.
[This picture shows some players gathered at Collingwood Library, ready to begin the afternoon.]
The Game
Members of Act on Climate were working as facilitators (think: dungeon master) to lead folks through the game. The players created fictionalised versions of themselves, allowing the use of real lived experiences while also keeping some distance from the climate impacts experienced in the game.
These characters then lived through three rounds of climate disasters based on scientific modelling of the council area, in this case City of Yarra. Players navigated the resulting social, physical, and mental shocks by creating adaptations to help them look after themselves, their families, and their community as climate-related impacts began to alter the social and physical landscape of Yarra.
[This picture shows the players setting up their characters for the game and deliberating adaptation solutions to the scenarios of the game.]
Thinking of these not-too-distant problems in the context of a game helped unlock imagination and visioning, and our players were able to come up with a range of solutions to help manage the situations they were facing. These included:
- The collection of storm water for use in a community misting system
- A swimmable Birrarrung (Yarra River) project
- Tool and skill sharing, e.g for insulating homes (facilitated through apps)
- The implementation of community solar/batteries
[This picture shows the board game and community adaptation solutions begin to coalesce.]
The game play helped demonstrate the ways in which communal approaches are key in maintaining energy and wellbeing. By forming community networks, the players were able to more easily cope with the climate shocks that were occurring. This helped to facilitate some interesting discussion about the relationship between individual and community wellbeing, as well as the compounding nature of disadvantage.
"We covered some heavy topics, but it was very valuable to be able to explore these in a supportive group setting. A key take-away for me is the importance of community networks and how the compounding nature of disadvantage plays out in the future scenarios (once low on the wellbeing scale it was hard for individuals to get back up, and when it did happen, it was due to community support)." - Collective Member Kelly
[This picture shows the facilitators and players taking it outside Collingwood library for a productive post-game debrief.]
In reflecting on the game, players and facilitators alike were able to share which aspects of the game were most useful and how it could be used in a tangible and action-driving way. It was felt that repeated play throughs could help players build on lessons from their initial sessions, or play as different characters to gain alternate perspectives.
Going forward
We’re keen to see how our existing Community Resilience Mapping may be preceded by TAG.
Resilience mapping is a tool we use to facilitate discussions with communities about climate impacts and adaptive capacities built on existing strengths. The perspective taking and visioning that TAG encourages may support a shared understanding of community resilience, prior to discussing practical and tangible local solutions.
Chatting to Council
A chat with representatives of the Climate Action team at the City of Yarra has led us to consider some options for how we can use TAG to best reach and support our communities across Yarra and Victoria going forward.
Themes we discussed were:
- Accessibility of TAG: How can the gameplay be adapted to be more inclusive, for instance for linguistically diverse communities.
- Data collection and evaluation of the outcomes and themes of TAG sessions: We believe there is incredible value in the thoughts, adaptations, and behaviours shared during the game. And feedback shared by players of our recent session indicates a to explore the themes and adaptations developed in other cohorts of players.
- Follow-up options to increase and sustain the impact of the game: Players expressed the need for activities to follow up the gameplay, as the game does not facilitate the joining of local groups, or input to council programs. Beyond following the game up with our Community Resilience Mapping, other options may include repeated games and long term impact evaluation.
We will continue conversations with City of Yarra and the game developers of AMBLE Studios to maximise the benefits of the game for the diverse communities across Yarra and Victoria, without duplicating efforts.
[This picture shows the brilliant TAG crew, after a great afternoon of play, brainstorming, and forming connections.]
Final reflections
By the end of the day, our neurons were sparking with new ideas and energised by the hopeful, imaginative, and collective ways everyone was able to adapt to the shocks and challenges of this not-so-made-up future. Yet we also felt humbled by the realities we must face.
We loved the enthusiasm that was brought by players and facilitators alike, and are looking forward to hopefully playing again sometime soon!
A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE BRILLIANT PLAYERS WHO CAME TO SPEND THE AFTERNOON WITH US!
And thank you to City of Yarra Council and TAG facilitators Rachel and Coby, who supported us in actualising this event.
If you’re a fan of board games, climate adaptations, or stretching your imagination, why not join us next time?
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TAG in your area
The game developers Amble Studios are working on updating the list of councils across 'Australia' who already have the game, or have commissioned it, which should be accessible on the TAG website in the near future.
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Want to hire us as facilitators?
→ Reach out to collective organiser Kimmi to enquire about our collective facilitating TAG or Community Resilience Mapping in your area [[email protected]].
Together we can help prepare communities for now unavoidable climate impacts!
Get in touch if you'd like to get involved or hear more about what we're doing:
- Kimmi Bebendorf: [email protected], or
- Kim Croxford: [email protected]
Remember, you're always welcome to join Act on Climate's weekly meetings. Our organising and action meetings will take place on the alternative fortnight to the Organising Training Workshops.
All weeks include dinner. Register here for an upcoming Tuesday.
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Want to help ensure we can continue doing the vital work of preparing Vic communities for climate impacts? Please help us continue our work preparing communities for locked-in climate impacts by making a once-off donation or signing up for monthly donations and becoming a member of AoC.
Act on Climate is actively bringing together people around Vic preparing their communities, generating impactful adaptation from the grassroots, while pressuring the Vic Gov to adequately fund community-led climate adaptation.
Donations will go towards a 2027 Climate Adaptation Fair and enable us to continue free Community Resilience Mapping and other events.