Climate Justice Simulation Experience

This new role-playing exercise helps us understand some of the concerns of an environmentally degraded community.

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The climate justice simulation experience is based on real situations faced by three U.S. communities in their struggles to contend with and organize around environmental injustices. Through the course of the role-playing simulation, participants will:

1. Gain knowledge about the local conditions that aggravate climate change.
2. Move toward more informed advocacy in solidarity with local communities.
3. Be introduced to the work of three community organizations addressing these particular climate justice issues.

Description of the Zones: The simulation includes three zones. Each zone represents one community. The Industrial Zone depicts an urban neighborhood that is dealing with the effects of many toxin-producing plants. The Indigenous Zone describes a Native American community that is facing the results of resource extraction. The Mountaintop Removal Zone portrays a community in Appalachia that is experiencing the negative health and environmental impacts of mountaintop removal. You may use one zone only or all three zones.

Description of the Simulation Process: The participants are divided into groups and each group is assigned a zone. The simulation begins with the groups reading about their particular context and then getting to know the roles they will be taking on throughout the simulation. As the simulation progresses the groups will explore how each stakeholder is benefiting and/or hurting by the situation. Then the group will be asked to determine what action they want to take and with whom—lawmakers, corporations, etc. They will get a response from the decision maker and then discuss further action. The final step is to read about what really happened in the communities that these situations are based on.

Number of "Players:" There are eight characters. Groups with fewer players can choose to have some persons play more than one role. Groups with nine or more players can work in teams or use multiple zones.

Time Requirement: Reserve 1 1/2 hours to complete the experience and process forward so that we give due honor to the communities who helped us create this.

Additional Resources

• Explore the 13 Steps to Sustainability for your community. Notify your community on why you’re taking the 13 Steps and what you are doing. Update your community regularly. LINK Take on one of the 13 Steps:
  • For your next United Methodist Women gathering, ask yourself what step would be most achievable.  
  • What would you do to educate the participants about that step?
  • Watch the 13 Steps to Sustainability webinar on YouTube
  • Contact your jurisdictional guide for the Be Just. Be Green. program
• Watch the climate justice webinar as a group; on YouTube
• Contact seminar designers at United Methodist Women for possible educational events that might help the conversation go forward in your unit, district or conference.
• Hold a film screening, followed by a discussion.

Films to discuss:

• The Wisdom to Survive: Climate Change, Capitalism and Community
  56 min. Rent the DVD on   olddogdocumentaries.org      
• Years of Living Dangerously: Premiere Episode
  50 min. Watch on YouTube
• Years of Living Dangerously: Revolt, Rebuild, Renew
  60 min. Buy DVD on Amazon.com
• Nova: Katharine Hayhoe - Climate Change Evangelist                                      
  2:42 min. Watch on YouTube
• Moyers & Company: Climate Change – Faith and Fact
  Interview with Katherine Hayhoe, refers to Years of Living Dangerously  
  25 min. Watch on YouTube
• When the Water Ends
  A Yale University study connecting climate change with conflict in East Africa
  16 min. Watch on Vimeo
• Hunger-Nutrition-Climate Justice
  The connection between human rights and climate change
  3:42 min. Watch on Vimeo
• Sisters on the Planet (Oxfam) 
  The effect of climate change on women
  4:28 min. Watch on YouTube

Register to use the Climate Justice Simulation Experience



Download the flyer