How to Handle the Public Health Impacts of Climate Change A Community Role-play Simulation

SCENARIO:

Mapleton, a city of 100,000, has just completed a Climate Vulnerability Assessment. The assessment shows that extreme heat and possible flooding associated with climate change pose substantial threats to the city. City officials asked an Advisory Group to suggest ways of preparing for possible emergencies and preventing injury and loss of life. The Advisory Group will have to wrestle with different risk management strategies and come to agreement if they want to have an impact.

This is a seven-party role-play simulation involving city officials, university planners, business representatives, and environmentalists trying to figure out how their city should respond to the possible public health impacts of climate change. The exercise introduces a public health orientation that is often lacking from local efforts to figure out how to adapt to climate risks.

Participants must consider the short-term and long-term public health impacts of climate change while assessing the pros can cons of specific (and conflicting) risk management strategies.

RESEARCH:

A recent article published in Nature Climate Change titled Role-play simulations for climate change adaptation education and engagement provides “rigorous empirical evidence” showing how negotiation role-plays like How to Handle the Public Health Impacts of Climate Change can “enhance collaborative capacity,” “foster social learning” and increase the readiness of citizens and professionals to engage in climate change adaptation efforts.

MAJOR LESSONS:

1. City officials should take public health risks into account when trying to prioritize strategies for climate adaptation.
2. Local climate change policies need to take account of both short-term and long-term public health risks and benefits.
3. In managing the public health risks of climate change, who should be responsible and who should bear the costs – residents, private sector, local government, state government, or the federal government?
4. Climate vulnerability assessments can be used to educate residents about localized risks and vulnerable populations. They are only useful, though, if they stimulate discussion about actions that can and should be taken.
5. Climate adaptation policies can provide co-benefits. That is, actions like building green infrastructure can reduce public health risks while simultaneously achieving environmental protection goals.
6. Local climate adaptation efforts should take account of the need for local governments to work together during emergencies and deal with public health risks through joint action.
7. It is hard to bring together representatives of numerous groups to engage in joint problem solving or collaborative risk management. Professional (neutral) facilitation can make the task much easier.
8. Infrastructure investments will continue to affect communities long after they are made.
   Building in flexibility and committing to ongoing monitoring of shifting circumstances can make it easier to adjust and adapt.
9. Stakeholders have competing interests and values that shape their views on proposed climate risk management policies. Groups can find solutions that meet their conflicting interests, but only if they listen carefully to each other’s concerns and construct “packages” that seek to meet multiple interests simultaneously.

TEACHING MATERIALS:

For all parties:

• • General Instructions

Role specific:
Confidential Instructions for:

• City Manager
• Director of Public Housing
• Director of Public Health
• Executive Director, Neighbors for a Green Mapleton (NGM)
• Long-Range Planner for Mapleton University
• President, Mapleton Chamber of Commerce
• Facilitator

Teacher's Package:

• All of the above

• Teaching note

MECHANICS:

This game requires seven players – one representing each of six stakeholder groups, plus a facilitator. Multiple groups of seven can play the game simultaneously.

ENHANCED VERSION AVAILABLE:

A digitally enhanced version of this simulation is available through the iDecisionGames platform and includes the following features:

• An Instructor’s Guide summarizing the negotiation concepts covered in the simulation, a quick review of simulation logistics, and a ready-to-use set of debriefing slides;
• Highlights from background readings that will help both students and instructors gain a better understanding of negotiation concepts and methods covered in the simulation;
• Pre- and post-simulation questionnaires instructors can use gauge each student’s grasp of the core concepts before and after participating in the simulation;
• PowerPoint slides that introduce key concepts before the simulation and highlight lessons for debriefing;
• Real time, interactive, data analytics provided via the iDecisionGames platform.

To order the Public Health Enhanced Package click here.

How to Handle the Public Health Impacts of Climate Change Attributes