Design Our Climate Simulation

© The King's Centre for Visualization in Science.
Content subject to KCVS terms of use.

Version 4.0.1, Date: May 4th, 2020
First developed for ExplainingClimateChange.com, this simulation is inspired by the Princeton Carbon Mitigation Initiative's work grounded in S. Pacala, R. Socolow "Stabilization Wedges: Solving the Climate Problem for the Next 50 Years with Current Technologies" Science 2004, 305, 968-972.

Authors: Ashley Elgersma, Kalley Lasola, Aden Gagnon, Amanda Ciezki, McKenzie Tilstra, Luke Vanderwekken, Theo Keeler, Anna Schwalfenberg, Darrell Vandenbrink, Joseph Zondervan, Dr. Peter Mahaffy, Dr. Brian Martin, Dr. Melanie Hoffman, and Dr. Robert MacDonald

Contact: You can reach us by email at kcvs@kingsu.ca

Learning Goals

After working through the Design Our Climate simulation and the “What’s Next” questions, you should be able to:

  • Identify your next steps to use the DOC simulation as a tool within your circle of influence to create non-polarizing conversations about climate change and accessible solutions, toward community action.
  • Contrast the climate resilient pathway greenhouse gas emissions with our current trajectory.
  • Compare the climate impacts of our current trajectory with achieving the climate resilient pathway.
  • Describe what is meant by carbon intensity of an energy source, and rank sources for producing electricity in order of decreasing carbon intensity.
  • From the five sectors for mitigation, identify the sector that you found has the greatest potential to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases by 2050.
  • Defend using data from the simulation your “top 5” list of actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
  • Explain to a neighbour what is meant by a “mosaic of solutions” to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Contrast the challenges of achieving mitigation strategies in your community with achieving them in a community with a different standard of living.
  • Take one next action in your circle of control, and in your circle of influence, on one of your "top 5" actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions - highlighting the benefits of these actions to your community.

Peer Review

KCVS is deeply grateful to the experts who contributed their time to improve the Design Our Climate simulation. Reviewers, who provided comments on individual sectors or the overall simulation included the following experts:

Version 3.0.0

  • Semaa Amin, Alberta Council of Disability Services
  • Jason Donev, University of Calgary / Energy Education
  • Alan Gould, UC Berkeley Lawrence Hall of Science (retired)
  • William D. Gunter, Alberta Research Council (retired)
  • Benjamin Israel, Pembina Institute
  • Jennifer Janzen, Alberta Tomorrow
  • James Jenden, Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission
  • Derek Leahy, Rural Routes to Climate Solutions
  • Erin Romanchuk, Natural Step Canada
  • Josh Rose, Canadian Geothermal Energy Association
  • Solas Energy Consulting
  • Marie Tremblay, Alberta Council for Environmental Education
  • Tiffany Vass, International Energy Agency

Version 4.0.0

  • Wolfgang Bauer, Michigan State University
  • Eugene Cordero, San Jose State University
  • Dan Knauss, New Local Media
  • William D. Gunter, Alberta Research Council (retired)
  • Shakti Ramkumar, Student Energy
  • Marie Tremblay, Alberta Council for Environmental Education

Funding

KCVS is deeply grateful to The King's University and Energy Efficiency Alberta for funding this project, as well as to Accessible Solutions project partners the Alberta Council for Environmental Education, Energy Futures Lab, People for Energy and Environmental Literacy, and Student Energy, for their generous in-kind support.