Decarbonise! An online simulation experience on decarbonisation climate policies

Abstract

How to introduce a practical dimension to the study of climate change in international relations teaching? This article is a statement of the application of a gamification strategy in a class of graduation in International Relations from XXXX in a distance learning context, to illustrate the understanding of public climate policies on decarbonisation. The platform of simulation Decarbonise! was developed in Europe and is available online, free of charge, and with pedagogical purposes. In this article, we contextualize the importance of the discussion on environmental issues in International Relations courses and we present the operation and results of the simulation experience. Based on the feedback of eighteen students, the simulations enabled the theoretical discussion of the topic more practically and actively. According to eleven self-perceptions form responses around the simulation experience, we observed a significant increase in understanding around pricing-based policies (Carbon Tax) and alternative energy trading schemes (Energy Budget Scheme), while self-perceived understanding of multiple green policy instruments (Green Economy Toolbox) has also increased, but to a lesser extent.