SI Projects: climate change

Most Americans believe that climate change is real and potentially dangerous to humans, to other species, and many natural systems. But, they also believe that we do not need to take significant action now.

Why?

There is a disconnect in the minds of many Americans between the reality of climate change and the willingness to act to lessen the danger. Mounting evidence (see, for example, the research by MIT's John Sterman and Harvard's Linda Booth Sweeney), suggests that most people don’t understand the basic dynamics of the climate system. Most dangerously, people tend to underestimate both the time it will take for the climate to adjust to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and the size of the reductions that will be needed to stabilize the climate. Such misunderstanding can lead people to advocate a "wait-and-see" approach to climate change, even in the face of a growing scientific consensus that we need to make immediate and deep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions.

At Sustainability Institute, we theorize that learning environments that incorporate system dynamics modeling and systems-based explanations of climate change can help people avoid these dangerous misunderstandings and help promote effective participation in the debate about climate change. From policy forums built around an interactive computer simulation model to role-playing exercises that engage learners more viscerally, "virtual worlds" have been shown to help people grasp complex research science, improve their intuition about how complex systems behave, and catalyze their commitment to action when it is appropriate.

Currently, SI is working on several climate change related projects.

Supporting Grassroots Education About Global Climate Change: Our Climate, Ourselves

Beth Sawin is leading SI's development of Our Climate, Ourselves — a program to support people educating themselves, their friends, neighbors, and co-workers about climate change. Pieces of the program include: a compelling presentation on the climate system, supporting materials, and a training program for those who wish to carry this work into their own communities. The goal of the program is to shift the climate conversation in the US from "wait-and-see" to "why we must act now to have an impact in the future." For those interested in supporting the program and scheduling a presentation, please contact Beth. You can also download a description of the Our Climate, Ourselves program (1.2MB pdf).

Interactive Climate Simulations

Andrew Jones and Chris Landry are leading SI's work in using interactive simulations to spark effective action on climate change. The core method is applying scientifically-grounded system dynamics models, widely-accessible simulations (or “Sims”), and systems thinking metaphors and diagrams.

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