Econlimate
Chandler, AZ
2024, Senior, Interactive & Multimedia
Project Description: The game combines economic and climate issues so the players can better understand how they are connected with one another. The principle of the game is the first player to the finish line wins. The route of the game is separated into two distinct parts. In the first part, the player is doing tasks that are good or bad for the environment, and earns either climate badges or money depending on which one it is. In the second part, the player has to survive in a world where the environment has been destroyed using the things they earned during the first part. Using money is slower than climate badges, and therefore players are rewarded for doing tasks that contribute to fighting climate change.
Reflection
Reflection
Climate change affects everyone. Before turning 9 years old, I lived in Yunnan, China. My parents told me the story of one of my neighbors, who was a German ecologist named Josef Margraf before passing away. Margraf developed a community-driven rainforest regeneration model in the Philippines and, in 1997, brought his vision over to Xishuangbanna, China, in an attempt to start tropical rainforest restoration and protection. Before this, rubber plantations had grown dramatically in Xishuangbanna, and large parts of the rainforest were cut down to make room for more. However, thanks to Margraf’s efforts, the rainforest was slowly restored following natural ecological patterns, and his efforts ultimately revived more than 6000 acres of rainforest. Seeing the tropical rainforest be destroyed in search of profits left a deep impression on my childhood, and Margraf‘s story inspired my interest in ecology and climate. After participating in international competitions focused on investment and entrepreneurship and achieving some success, I have become increasingly aware of the close connection between climate and the economy. This awareness inspired me to create this game. Through playing the game, I hope players will recognize the severity of future climate issues and understand that these issues are closely linked to current socio-economic activities and personal lifestyle habits. I hope that players will realize effective solutions to climate problems can only be achieved through working together to change lifestyle habits globally.