Rising Tides

Education is the key to addressing climate change, educating young people about the impact of climate change, and how collaboration is critical in building a green infrastructure. It creates awareness at a young age so that this generation makes this a priority and motivates them to take action to tackle what could be the greatest threat to our existence on this planet. Through its Climate Change Education for Sustainable Development program, UNESCO aims to “help people understand the impact of global warming today and increase "climate literacy" among young people.” ( United Nations Climate Action). A 2020 study found that if 16 percent of secondary school (equivalent to middle and high school) students around the world in middle and high-income countries studied climate change, it would result in cutting almost 19 gigatons of CO2 by 2050 (Columbia Climate School). According to UNESCO, Climate change education helps people understand and address the impacts of the climate crisis, empowering them with the knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes needed to act as agents of change. A recent New York Times article addresses how New York City Public School, the largest in the Nation, is getting a head start by incorporating Climate education into its curriculum. The United States does not have mandated national science standards that dictate a climate curriculum. In the U.S., approximately three-quarters of public school science teachers cover climate change in their curriculum. Research suggests that those with higher levels of education have higher adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change, and so suffer fewer damages from the consequences of climate change (O'Neill et al. 2020). According to Christina Kwak and Rebecca Winthrop's article titled "Engaging Kids in Climate Action," they state that "there is a growing momentum around the world to harness the power of education to combat and adapt to climate change and ensure young people have the critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration skills needed to take action. In the U.S., 80% of parents and in the UK, 77% of adults support teaching climate change in school."

In this game, players assume the roles of leaders from five distinct institutions: Science, Government, Environmental Activist, Consumer, and Business. Each institution has unique abilities, goals, and challenges in bringing CO2 emissions to zero and averting environmental catastrophe.

Players work together to build green infrastructure, reduce carbon footprints, and adapt to a changing world where rising sea levels, wildfires, and natural disasters threaten life balance. The game is set across four countries, each with unique cities where players can build structures and face environmental challenges.

Players must navigate the fine line between cooperative efforts to reduce global emissions and competitive tactics to build the most structures to win. Strategic resource management, tactical planning, and collaborative decision-making are crucial to achieving individual and shared goals. However, players must also be wary of the unintended negative impacts of their actions, which could lead to environmental disasters and setbacks.

Below is the link to the Rising Tides website:

https://www.risingtides.online...

My online climate change board game serves the future generation by educating them at a young age and making it their priority to prevent and solve the problem of climate change. My solution encourages the younger generations' choices and decisions and how they make it a political priority in their respective nations. 

I am a high school student in a unique position to understand my generation's learning styles. In this day and age of online gaming, my solution is a practical choice of education. 

In accordance with my claims, the authors of the article "Engaging Kids in Climate Action" state, "In the U.S., 86% of teachers believe climate change should be taught in schools, but nearly 60% of teachers report they do not teach Climate Change because they believe it is outside of their subject area." However, given the level of intuition my game holds, it is an easy starting point for teachers in elementary schools. 

Per my previous response, as a high school student, I am uniquely positioned to deliver this solution to the target population. I can start this outreach in my school by engaging elementary students. Based on successful implementation in my school, I can then begin outreach to other schools in my community at large. 

In a recent New York Times Article titled, "Reading, Writing, Math … and Climate Change?" it states, "New York may soon join a growing number of states seeking to incorporate climate change into school lesson plans."

My board game, Rising Tides, has just been fully developed. The board game has been tested among friends and family. I have also just designed and completed a website for my board game that covers its goal/objectives, instructions for students, and instructions for teachers/adults (how to use and teach the game).

I am applying to Solve to connect with partners worldwide who can assist in outreach for my game and gain visibility.

Players are assigned their roles, draw their initial resource cards, and place their starting structures on the map.

Players can build structures, use institution cards, or activate special abilities defined by their roles. Strategic decisions must balance the immediate benefits of construction and expansion against the long-term goal of environmental sustainability.

Triggered by specific levels on the emissions bar, disasters require players to adapt their strategies and sometimes work more closely together to mitigate impacts and continue towards their goals.

The game is won by successfully reducing the emissions bar to zero, requiring cooperative efforts to build green infrastructure and implement sustainable practices across the map, while also navigating the competitive elements of the game.

Players must navigate the complexities of environmental policy, technological innovation, consumer behavior, and business strategy in a changing world, making "Rising Tides" a dynamic game of strategy, cooperation, and competition in the face of global climate challenges.

Currently, I am the only one working on my solution

I have been working on this solution for the past year.

I am the only one working on this solution.