EbAcraft: Engaging Local Communities in Learning About Ecosystem-Based Adaptation for Coastal Cities in Europe

Coastal cities are confronted with the imperative to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Within the realm of adaptation strategies, ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) has emerged as a prominent solution for enhancing the resilience of coastal communities. However, a significant obstacle lies in the effective dissemination and comprehension of these innovative climate adaptation strategies among local populations. Communication serves as a pivotal factor in facilitating an understanding of the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change. The engagement of children in communication initiatives has proven to be effective when promoting adoption of these types of solutions, as they also support the engagement of other local societal groups, such as their families. Minecraft, a highly popular digital game, presents a compelling platform for the creation of public online servers featuring customisable mechanics. Leveraging this potential, our study introduces EbAcraft, a game specifically developed to engross and challenge players in the collaborative implementation of EbAs tailored for a fictional coastal city. By contextualising the climate change challenges, presenting potential solutions, and inviting participation within a virtual environment, EbAcraft was conceived as an engaging tool to foster comprehension and encourage active involvement. The game was launched during the EU Green Week 2023 as an online workshop, inviting participants from 10 different European cities as part of the SCORE Project and supporting multilingual accessibility with translations available in 11 languages. SCORE Coastal Cities Living Labs (CCLLs) promoted the event within their respective communities through schools and social media, resulting in the participation of 33 players over 7 hours of online event.