Weather and climate: Low-income country (LIC) climate change

Planet Planners on Roblox is an engaging way for students to learn about some of the world's most pressing challenges – from preparing for natural disasters to managing large cities.

A decision-making exercise game with geographical thinking at its core, it also builds key skills such as teamwork, time management, resilience, problem-solving and decision-making.

It is accessed via Roblox – an immersive platform for 3D experiences. To learn more about Roblox and how it can be used in education, visit Get started with Roblox Education.

For more detailed information about the game, visit How to teach using Planet Planners on Roblox.

Play Planet Planners on Roblox.

In this scenario, players act as decision-makers responding to the impacts of climate change in a fictional coastal town.

They must analyse data, make decisions and allocate resources to both mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Players must think critically about resource management, lowering carbon emissions and supporting those displaced by climate-related droughts and flooding.

Approximate location: Bay of Bengal

Download/print the teacher notes for this scenario (PDF).

Teacher notes prepared in partnership with the Geographical Association.

Learning objectives

• To identify the factors contributing to climate change in low-income countries (LICs).
• To make decisions about adapting to climate change in LICs.
• To examine strategies for mitigating climate change in LICs.

Key decisions

• How should carbon emissions be reduced?
• How should we fund the implementation of renewable technologies?
• Should carbon be captured and stored?
• How can we support those displaced by climate-related natural hazards?

Key geographical terminology

Adaptation: Taking steps to change or adjust something. For example, learning to live with the effects of climate change.

Climate change: When atmospheric conditions, such as temperature and rainfall, change over time. Currently, our climate is becoming warmer over time, and this is called global warming.

Mitigation: Taking steps to reduce the severity of something. For example, climate change mitigation involves limiting or preventing greenhouse gas emissions.

Think, work and apply like a geographer

Encourage students to explore the links between gameplay and real-world job roles, such as:

• renewable energy engineer
• meteorologists, climate change scientists and policy makers
• GIS and data science

Questions to explore

• What sort of activities increase or decrease carbon emissions?
• What are the short-term and long-term impacts of droughts and flooding?
• How can communities adapt to and mitigate the effects of climate change?
• Which is more effective, mitigation or adaptation?
• Should economic factors influence disaster response strategies?
• How should we support those displaced by the effects of climate change?
• How do different parts of the world experience and manage climate crises?
• Who is responsible for contributing to climate change? Who is most affected by climate change?

Emotional and ethical considerations

Eco-anxiety: Acknowledge climate change concerns but focus on solutions and resilience.

Ethical decision-making: How should we support those displaced by the effects of climate change? How do we balance economic and environmental concerns?

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