Understanding climate change
A grounding in the science and stakes behind the game — global, then local. Amber chips are real figures awaiting cited sources.
What is happening
When we burn coal, oil, and gas, we release carbon dioxide (CO₂) and other greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. CO₂ concentrations have climbed to roughly , and the planet has warmed about since the pre-industrial era. Each year, fossil fuels add about to the atmosphere.
The consequences compound: oceans warm and expand, ice sheets melt, and sea levels have already risen about since 1900. Heatwaves, droughts, wildfires, and stronger storms grow more frequent and more severe.
Why local action matters
Climate change is global, but emissions come from local choices — how we get around, power our homes, and build our towns. Transportation alone accounts for about of U.S. emissions, and the average American emits roughly per year, well above the global average. Extreme heat already affects , hitting vulnerable communities hardest.
That is the premise of Carbon Cleaner: a single county of 100,000 people, carbon-dependent today, with the tools to change course. The county stands in for your community — the decisions are the same ones real local governments face.
The project's goals
- Understand — teach real climate impacts at both global and local scales.
- Use data — present real, cited numbers, never invented ones.
- Propose solutions — every in-game action is a concrete, real-world climate intervention.
- Take civic action — players write to real representatives and produce a shareable report for stakeholders.