Why does Climate Change matter in my game?
How Incorporating Science into Tabletop Gaming can be Useful.
Challenging Bad Actors
While attending PhilCon 2024, a science fiction convention in my area, I had the opportunity to engage with a variety of highly educated individuals presenting on niche and well-researched topics. Unfortunately, not every experience was positive. One panel focused on climate change fiction, a genre I enjoy that intertwines storytelling with one of humanity's most pressing challenges:
“Solarpunk offers visions of future cooperation; works like Kim Stanley Robinson’s The Ministry for the Future offers blueprints for mounting a global response while Premee Mohamed's "The Annual Migration of Clouds" showcases what happens in a world in which we never tried. What role can climate fiction play in a world with intensifying climate changes and effects?”
- PhilCon 2024 Website
Despite the promise of this discussion, much of the panel was derailed by one individual—Dr. Jay L. Wile—who dominated the conversation with his own agenda, leaving little room for meaningful dialogue.
“Dr. Jay L. Wile holds an earned Ph.D. in nuclear chemistry and a B.S. in chemistry, both from the University of Rochester. He has won several awards for excellence in teaching at both university and high school levels and is an internationally-known speaker, having presented lectures on the topics of Nuclear Chemistry, Christian Apologetics, Homeschooling, and Creation vs. Evolution in several different countries.”
- PhilCon 2024 Website
As a STEM educator and someone who has led faith-based discussions in Unitarian and Sojourn settings, I wholeheartedly support thoughtful conversations about the intersectionality of Christianity and science. However, it’s essential to acknowledge that these domains can coexist but fundamentally address different questions: science explores the "how," while religion, spirituality, and philosophy address the "why." When one dominates the other in an unrelated context, it can undermine productive discourse. Dr. Wile, who has a history of debating the existence of evolution, brought a similar mindset to this panel, questioning the existence and effects of man-made climate change.1
(As an aside, if you’re interested in exploring overlaps between philosophy and ecology, I recommend this thought-provoking article on testing for intelligence in non-human species:
Philosopher argues that animals don't need to "prove" they're smart.)
The Danger of Misused Climate Facts
Dr. Wile's arguments against climate change followed familiar patterns of misrepresenting or cherry-picking facts to serve an anti-science ideology. Here are some of the key points he raised and why they fall apart under scrutiny:
‘Contrary to popular opinion, hurricanes are not getting worse.’
Fact Check: “Climate change has not led to an increase in the total number of hurricanes hitting the U.S. each year. But the storms that do form are more likely to become more intense, with higher wind speeds, heavier rainfall, and more severe storm surge.”2
Odd that Dr.Wile had graphs prepared on total hurricane numbers but not the latter information listed above.
‘Wind Turbines kill birds.’
Fact Check: While wind turbines are estimated to cause up to 679,000 bird deaths annually, this number pales in comparison to other causes: building collisions (up to 988 million), house cats (up to 4 billion), and power lines (12–64 million). Moreover, fossil fuel energy sources are far deadlier for birds, with one study finding they kill nearly 20 times as many birds per gigawatt-hour as wind energy.3
‘It’s not even the hottest year on record, there was a hotter recording in medieval times. Plus Earth is supposed to be hotter right now naturally.’
Fact Check: “Earth has not cooled 4 degrees Celsius since ‘medieval times,’ Michael Mann, a climate scientist at the University of Pennsylvania, told USA TODAY. ‘It’s an absurd statement that stands in contradiction to every peer-reviewed study on this topic of the past two decades,’ he said in an email, noting that the most comprehensive studies show recent warming is unprecedented in tens of thousands of years.”4
Fact Check: While natural warming periods exist, they occur over thousands to millions of years—not the rapid 200-year rise we see today without any large-scale geological changes driving it.5 Here's an excellent video I show students that explains this phenomenon.
‘Raising energy costs kill people.’
Fact Check: While energy costs do affect vulnerable populations, this is an argument for investing in sustainable and affordable energy solutions. Fossil fuels, too, have had devastating impacts on human lives and the environment.
‘Acid rain was said to be a whole big deal, where is that today then?’ (this was delivered by an audience member)
Fact Check: We tackled acid rain through effective policy, including the U.S. Acid Rain Program, which significantly reduced sulfur dioxide emissions. Addressing climate change requires a similar systematic commitment to solutions.
Dr. Wile’s presence on this panel underscores a broader issue: putting a scientist on stage with a conspiracy theorist can create a false equivalence, suggesting their views are equally valid. For more on how to combat this dynamic, I recommend this article: Conspiracy Theories Can Be Undermined with These Strategies, New Analysis Shows.
So, Where’s the Relevance in Tabletop Gaming?
Your game might be one of the few ways many players encounter science. If your goal is to help people understand that climate change is real, keep in mind that most individuals who are undecided or skeptical aren’t attending some academic event titled Princeton Climate Change Chats. Instead, they may be influenced by bad-faith actors spreading misinformation and distorting scientific facts to push harmful narratives.
“Whilst there is an almost unanimous agreement amongst scientists that global warming is mostly anthropogenic [Cook et al., 2016 ], this is not always well communicated to non-scientists. Debates in the media can give a false impression that there are two equal and opposing views in the scientific community [Nisbet, Cooper and Ellithorpe, 2015 ], a situation that is perhaps exacerbated by the language used by scientists — words such as “uncertainty” and “error” risk suggesting doubt about the fact of anthropogenic global warming” - Illingworth, S. and Wake, P. (2019). Developing science tabletop games: ‘Catan’® and global warming
If there’s something in the world that frustrates or upsets you, channel that passion into your game. Use your work to lay a foundation of accurate science and compelling storytelling so that players think of your work before they fall prey to misleading voices. If you have a background in the topic that you can speak well on, sign up for these sci-fi panels, make games, your work can be a tool for education, awareness, and change
That’s also why I’ve bothered outlining these misused climate facts—if even one of these points gives you a tool for your own creative or educational efforts, then it’s been worth it. Let’s use our work to make a difference.
Educational Integration beyond the Classroom
You don’t need to be creating the next WordGirl or Bill Nye the Science Guy to effectively convey scientific information. People are constantly influenced by the views presented in their environment and entertainment. When concerns about GMOs arise, many think of Jurassic Park. When AI comes up, The Matrix often looms in the background of the conversation.
You can foster scientific literacy among your audience through your game without forcing a textbook down their throats. Focus on telling great stories that just happen to be supported by excellent science.
“Star Trek and NASA have had a strong connection for many years, with the former being inspired to write stories of the future by current-day NASA activities, and the latter inspired to do great things now by the stories we’ve all viewed,” Carpenter said. “Both have benefited greatly from this continuous interaction.”
Dr. Ken Carpenter, Hubble Space Telescope operations project scientist
Accuracy Supports Rich Fiction
The success of films like The Martian and Interstellar can be attributed in part to their scientific accuracy. Speculative fiction thrives when grounded in realism, as it allows audiences to explore future possibilities while remaining anchored in something tangible. Even the most surreal stories often begin in relatable settings before spinning into the extraordinary.
Realism also encourages unique narratives. By focusing on specific stories and the unintended consequences of human actions, games can connect players to larger, global issues. Consider how many degrees of separation you are from climate change survivors. Through games, players can engage with stories and ethical dilemmas they might never encounter otherwise.
Real-world events have always shaped fiction. The myth of vampires emerged from tuberculosis, while Godzilla tapped into fears of nuclear fallout. Games, like stories, can offer players a way to confront their fears and find empowerment in facing them.
“Tales of survival often require real-world situations so that we know the rules”,
remarked a panelist at PhilCon’s Science in Science Fiction panel.6
Finally, there’s easy flavor in new innovations as well. Instead of using the default wind turbines, consider bladeless turbines. For setting, swap a mining quarry out for a series of abandoned oil wells. Emergent gameplay can arise from realistic environmental elements (with fictitious circumstances), such as changing weather patterns, natural disasters, or ecological succession. There’s no reason your game should resemble the simplistic science of an elementary school trivia board.
Play as a Stress Management Tool
Climate fiction does not necessarily mean pessimistic, depressing realism. When someone is inspired to make great change, they don’t look to blade runner for the exciting future of dirty, neon alleyways. They look towards Star Trek and see the future that could be.
Hopepunk, a subgenre focused on optimistic resistance, offers players a vision of a better future. Change doesn’t emerge solely from pessimism—what if we actually succeed in creating a sustainable world? This is impossible to do if the ideas are not first held close to be played with.
A stellar example is the map-making tabletop game Kampala Yénkya. It asks questions such as “What will Kampala be like in the year 2060? Will the world have addressed the challenges of climate change? What new technologies might have been developed, and will they be working as intended? What old knowledge may have taken on new significance? What adventures will be possible?”
For further exploration on this topic, please check out my articles on how play intersects with neuroscience and grief management.
The Rise of Serious Games
Some games go beyond exploring possibilities; they enable actionable solutions for those in positions of power. The genre of serious games has emerged, emphasizing titles designed for purposes beyond entertainment.
Tabletop games, which offer high levels of sociability, adaptability, and tactility, create a shared space in which complex topics can be discussed and debated, and it is this capacity to foster dialogue that makes them such a productive means for discussion on the topic of global warming.
Insights from current educational theory on play and learning indicate that well-designed tabletop games can help to stimulate dialogue around large-scale societal issues such as social class inequality [Carreiro and Kapitulik, 2010 ], religious tolerance [Roux, 2003 ], and health education [Bochennek et al., 2007 ]. Similarly, research in science communication has shown that tabletop games can be effective in raising environmental awareness [Antle et al., 2014 ; D’Angelo, Pollock and Horn, 2015 ] , but this has largely involved the creation of bespoke educational games for children, while our aim was to develop a game capable of generating dialogue around global warming for a more general audience. - Illingworth, S. and Wake, P. (2019). Developing science tabletop games: ‘Catan’® and global warming
How do I do it?
Let your game be a gateway to both entertainment and education—a tool for engagement, exploration, and empowerment.
Summarized recommendations on creating climate games from Illingworth, S. and Wake, P. (2019). Developing science tabletop games: ‘Catan’® and global warming:
Accessibility: Design with inclusivity in mind from the start. Consider practical constraints like playtime and space.
Game Literacy: Account for different experience levels. Provide clear instructions, such as "How to Play" guides or subtitled video tutorials.
Playtesting: Conduct both open and blind playtests to identify issues and ensure ease of play without a facilitator.
Peer Review: Ensure scientific accuracy by seeking feedback from colleagues or online communities.
Metagame: Encourage ongoing discussion and engagement beyond the game session.
For additional tips on science involvement, check out my article below on Integrating Science into TTRPGs: Dos and Don’ts.
I wanted to highlight that other panelists did attempt to push back and minimize the impact of this individual. Carol Gyzander for one did an excellent job at that.
Apologies, I lost their name in my notetaking.