The Systems that Shape Climate Change

Developed by: Lana Cook, Peter Senge, Jonas Jebril, Tibyan Bilal, Yevheniia Rudenko, Karim Makie, Fiorella Massa, Victoria Saia (Consultant)

For Grades: 7-12

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Integrating the Compassionate Systems Framework and En-ROADS Simulator to Navigate the Personal, Social, and Global Dynamics of Climate Policy and Action

This curriculum draws from the MIT Systems Awareness Lab’s research and the Center for Systems Awareness’ work on the “Compassionate Systems Framework.” This educational framework brings together tools and practices designed to support students in navigating complex change across interconnecting systems of: 1) self: personal, emotional, individual; 2) relational: self and others; and 3) collective: larger societal, political, ecological and economic realities.

Through this frame, this curriculum supports young people to learn about climate policies using Climate Interactive’s En-ROADS climate policy simulator. En‑ROADS is a global climate simulator that lets you test how different climate solutions—like electrifying transportation, putting a price on carbon, or changing farming practices—affect things like temperature, air quality, sea level rise, and energy costs. In this combination of compassionate systems and En-ROADS, students learn about the inner and outer systems dynamics that underlie climate change, its drivers, and effects–from global energy policies, consumer behavior, to our sense of agency and hope in contributing to a more positive future.

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