Abstract Body

Adopting game-like approaches in capacity building activities allows obtaining effective results, in particular when dealing with complex issues such as climate change. A clear understanding of basic concepts is indispensable to work with increasing complexity. According to literature, games related to environmental governance boost eagerness to participate as the game context gives voice to people that are not often engaged.

We present here an exploratory tool to enhance the communication of climate change adaptation concepts already tested and implemented in the occasion of several workshops in different regions of the world in the framework of the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCoM) initiative.

The game-like approach consists of a photographs-selection game where participants –with diverse profiles– are divided in groups. Each group is given the same 100 pictures with several subjects and topics, related or not to climate change. A climate risk is assigned to each group who needs to identify one single picture for each concept of the climate risk framework (IPCC, AR5): “hazard”, “exposure”, “vulnerability”, “impact”, and “adaptation” consistent with the risk assigned. The risks are adapted to the local characteristics of the region.
After completing the activity, the groups can explain their results, and some pre-evaluated solutions are given to develop further insights and discussions. Groups were mainly composed by experts, civil servants, and other stakeholders and citizens interested in climate change, including non-climate experts.
The aim of the activity is to reinforce basic knowledge to help climate practitioners in further developing their climate related work by visualising the concepts and steps to be undertaken, correctly identifying the components of risk and recognising the relation between climate risks and corresponding adaptation actions.
This method has been applied in different regions of the GCoM initiative: South East Asia , Latin America, North America and Europe. The exercise was reported to be successful by participants. It highlighted that main difficulties were related to the concept of vulnerability. Through this activity, a structured approach for climate change adaptation rooted in prevention, forecasting and monitoring systems instead of emergency is given.