The Climate Game -- Can You Reach Net Zero?
Although it is clear that the second option -- immediately closing all coal plants and beginning the construction of clean energy plants -- would be the most significant in terms of CO2 reduction, this option also takes much more effort points. Once the player runs out of effort points they are rendered unable to take any actions or responses. The other two options are less effective at reducing CO2 but take fewer effort points. This game's core concept is tied to the idea of agency. In the book Hamlet on the Holodeck, author Janet Murray defines agency as the player's ability to make choices that have significant power over the progression of the game. In this game, the player's choices are absolute and directly shape the course of the environment as the years pass. Indeed, the game's objective is to reduce the numerical CO2 value as much as possible. Every time the player makes a choice, the impact of that choice on the CO2 value is displayed immediately along with an explanation of what the player achieved (or failed to achieve) showing the player that their choices have real meaning and value in determining the future of the environment. Giving players this agency makes them focus more on the environment-saving options being presented and think more deeply about how each policy could shape the environment.
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