Save the Climate Escape Game

This resource is a PowerPoint-based escape game (using simple macros) that helps students explore the dilemma of international climate cooperation. Designed for older students or adults (around 16+), it puts players in the shoes of countries who must decide whether to commit to ambitious climate action or free-ride on the efforts of others. Through a sequence of puzzles and decisions, the game shows why it is so difficult to reach strong global agreements to “save the planet”, even though, from a collective point of view, deep cooperation would clearly make more sense.

The escape game can be used on its own or combined with a classroom experiment on climate cooperation (for example, a simple simulation of international negotiations or a public-goods style game). Together, these activities offer a playful yet thought-provoking way to introduce students to the logic of cooperation, free-riding and trust in climate policy.