Play for the Planet: Game Night at KTH Climate Action Centre Offers Fun Spin on Climate Challenges
Last Friday Night, students crowded the KTH Climate Action Centre for a fun night of board games. After the participants were greeted at the door, students sat down and teamed up to tackle climate action through thoughtful tabletop teachings. With an emphasis on the critical issues surrounding sustainability and climate action, the event brought together students eager to test their strategic skills while also learning more about the challenges and opportunities in building a sustainable future.
The night of board games consisted of popular names like Catan: New Energies Edition, Power Grid: Recharged, and Daybreak. Each game had their own unique spin on environmental themes and explored realistic scenarios that mimic real-world challenges.
Catan: New Energies Edition is a variation of the classic strategy board game Catan, adapted to focus on renewable energy and sustainable resource management. Players take on the role of energy entrepreneurs aiming to build sustainable power grids on the island of Catan. Balancing resources is the name of the game, and players are rewarded for building the most robust energy network along the way.
Power Grid: Recharged puts focus on power plants, and their expansion into new cities. Players compete as energy company managers, each aiming to power the most cities by building and expanding power networks while keeping an eye on the fluctuating market prices. Quick decision-making is put against mindful resource management.
Daybreak involves players taking on the roles of different countries with cooperation being the focal point. All players must tackle dynamic action cards that spread emissions or limit green technology to raise the global temperature 1 degree at a time. The game ends when either all rounds are exhausted, or the temperature reaches critical mass!
Board games are more than just a pastime - they’re a creative resource for education. The Board Game Night at the KTH Climate Action Centre wasn't just about competition; it was about bringing together like-minded students to explore innovative ways of thinking about sustainability. It offered a refreshing break from traditional lectures and discussions, and instead stimulated their senses to spark solutions in solving a serious situation. While the event lasted only a few hours, everyone in the room made sure to create ideas and learnings that will resonate long after the last piece was put away.