Interactive simulation with En-ROADS spurs climate action among decision-makers

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Rooney-Varga, Lucia Cheney, Rachel L. Coleman, Andrew P. Jones, and 6 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8283334/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 10 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The risks of climate change stand in stark contrast to widespread confusion, conflict, and insufficient action among decision-makers. Interactive climate policy simulations have been proposed to enable people to learn more effectively than traditional risk communication methods. Here we analyze the impact of engaging decision-makers in government, the private sector, and NGOs with the interactive En-ROADS climate policy simulator. Quantitative analyses of pre- and post-workshop surveys show statistically significant, substantive gains in participant knowledge about climate solutions, their personal connection to climate change, and their sense of empowerment to address it. Analyses of post-workshop semi-structured interviews highlight gains in knowledge about and emotional engagement with climate solutions induced by the simulation, with many participants reporting stronger motivation to act on climate. The results suggest that simulations like En-ROADS can inform and empower decision-makers to influence climate policy, offering a promising tool to bridge the gap between knowledge and action. Earth and environmental sciences/Climate sciences Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental social sciences Social science/Environmental studies Figures Figure 1 Introduction Meeting international climate goals requires unprecedented cuts in fossil fuel use and acceleration in energy efficiency, renewable energy adoption, and end-use electrification 1 . But the gap between the emissions expected from current national policies and those compatible with the remaining carbon budget is wide 2 , with current policies expected to yield about 3.2°C of warming by 2100 3 . With inadequate national action, climate action by a broad set of societal actors, including sub-national governments, businesses, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), is increasingly important 4 . As of 2023 more than 4,200 companies representing almost 40% of the global economy had climate action plans approved by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) 5 , with some companies reporting emissions cuts of more than 35% from 2015 to 2019 6 . Emissions pledges of sub-national entities are often voluntary. Implementation and success therefore depend on those in leadership roles to respond to the urgency of emissions reductions, understand which climate actions are effective, and work to implement them. However, both leaders and the general public are vulnerable to widespread misconceptions, disinformation, and greenwashing that work against meaningful action 7 , 8 . For example, while many American mayors are committed to climate action, insufficient knowledge often hinders their implementation of evidence-based climate policies 9 . Similarly, both the American public 10 and corporations favor 11 afforestation as a top climate solution. But planting trees does not reduce fossil fuel emissions, the largest contributor to global warming 3 , and does little to sequester carbon in the near-term because of delays in land acquisition and tree growth. Meanwhile, high-impact solutions including carbon pricing 12 enjoy far less public support 13 . There is an extensive literature about the failure of traditional risk communication strategies to spur evidence-based climate action. Especially in the US and other English-speaking countries, climate change is highly politicized and disinformation and misconceptions about it are widespread 14 – 16 . Misconceptions pose a barrier to learning about climate change, especially when those misconceptions are reinforced by one’s social group 14 . Traditional communication approaches often failed to generate intrinsic emotional engagement and a sense of urgency, which are strong predictors of action 17 . Lastly, individuals are often reluctant to talk about climate change because doing so goes against perceived social norms 18 . This reticence only furthers the tendency to underestimate others’ concerns about climate changes, creating a “spiral of silence” 18 or “false social reality” 19 that further suppresses the communication that is needed to build consensus for action. Interactive simulations have been proposed to overcome the limitations of traditional risk communication strategies 7 by enabling people to experiment and learn for themselves and to do so in an emotionally engaging and social way 20 – 22 . Here we use the En-ROADS climate policy simulator to ask whether interactive simulation-based workshops can inform decision-makers in government, business, and civil society about high-impact climate solutions and motivate them to act. En-ROADS enables users to test a wide range of climate mitigation actions and receive immediate feedback on their effect on energy production and costs, land use, greenhouse (GHG) emissions, temperature, and a variety of physical, health, and economic impacts of climate change 23 . User-specified inputs include 17 policy or action sliders to encourage or discourage the use of fossil fuels, renewable, nuclear, and other energy supplies; energy efficiency in transport, buildings, and industry; electrification of transport, buildings, and industry; land use; and non-CO- 2 GHGs 23 . Each of these 17 sliders has detailed settings that enable users to specify details for each policy area, such as selecting start and end times, stringency, or level of effort in policy implementation. Users can also change many of the underlying assumptions in the model, including projections of global population, economic growth, climate-Earth system feedbacks, and rates of technological change 23 . En-ROADS integrates current climate and energy science, is calibrated to historical data and larger climate and integrated assessment models, and is tested against a wide range of climate scenarios, including Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs) 23 . En-ROADS is freely available online, accessible to non-experts, and has been used by more than 294,000 people in 158 nations ( https://www.climateinteractive.org/en-roads/ ), including more than 15,500 leaders in government, business, and civil society ( https://mitsloan.mit.edu/centers-initiatives/sustainability-initiative/mit-climate-pathways-project#our-impact ), since its release in 2019. Recent research indicates that engaging with En-ROADS or a related model, C-ROADS, enhances participants’ understanding of climate change and its solutions, their desire to learn more, and their intent to take action to combat it 20–22,24,25 . However, many participants in prior research were students who did not hold leadership positions or have power to implement climate policies. Students may update their climate beliefs more readily than older adults 26 . To affect policy decisions today, it is important to ask whether interactive simulation can inform and motivate today’s leaders. Here we employ a sample of elected and appointed US government officials including members of Congress, mayors, diplomats, senior executives, and professionals in business and NGOs (Table 1 , Table S1 ). Using a mixed-methods approach, we ask what participants learn as a result of engaging with En-ROADS during interactive workshops. We find that leaders and professionals make significant gains in their understanding of climate solutions and motivation to advocate for informed action. They develop a stronger sense of the need for rapid climate action and motivation to implement high-impact climate solutions. Table 1 Interviewees’ title or position, sector, country or region, and prior focus on sustainability or climate change. ‘Sust focus’ refers to whether or not the interviewee’s professional work was focused on sustainability-related topics. Title/Position Sector Country or Region Sust focus United Nations CCD COP 1 President International governance United Nations Yes Chief Executive Officer Municipal government Australia Yes Mayoral candidate Municipal government United States No Mayor Municipal government United States No Mayor Municipal government United States Yes Mayor Municipal government United States No Police Commander, Major Crimes Municipal government United States No Diplomatic Fellow National government European Union Yes Foreign Service Officer National government United States No US Representative National government United States Yes US Representative National government United States Yes US Representative National government United States No Regional Group Spokesperson NGO European Union Yes Policy Fellow NGO United States Yes Tech Coordinator NGO United States Yes State Coordinator NGO United States Yes Chief Operating Officer Private sector, energy European Union Yes Executive Vice President Sustainability & HSSE Private sector, energy European Union Yes Head of Sustainability Private sector, energy European Union Yes Vice President of Management Communication Private sector, energy European Union Yes Member of the Executive Board of Directors Private sector, finance European Union No Partner Private sector, finance European Union Yes Senior Vice President of Sustainability & Climate Private sector, finance European Union Yes Head of Responsible Investment Private sector, finance United Kingdom Yes Chief Operating Officer Private sector, finance United States Yes Senior Legal Counsel Private sector, finance United States Yes Senior Manager Private sector, finance United States Yes Senior Manager advisory services Private sector, finance United States Yes Chairman of the Supervisory Board Private sector, technology European Union Yes Managing Director and Chief Digital Officer Private sector, technology European Union Yes Market Development Lead Private sector, technology European Union No Lead Architect, DevOps, SRE & Sustainable Engineering Private sector, technology United States No Chief Executive Officer Private sector, technology United States No Vice President of Social Impact and Sustainability Private sector, technology United States Yes Climate Change Coordinator State government European Union Yes Head, Climate Protection Unit State government European Union Yes Douglas County Commissioner, District 1, Vice-Chair of the Board of County Commissioners State government United States Yes County Commissioner State government United States Yes Executive Director, Department of Early Childhood State government United States No State Representative State government United States No Climate Policy Advisor State government United States Yes State Representative State government United States No 1 CCD COP: Convention to Combat Desertification Conference of Parties. Results Survey-based analyses Quantitative analyses of survey responses show statistically significant gains in participants’ affective engagement with climate change and its potential solutions (Table 2 ). They made small but statistically significant gains in their sense of the personal importance of climate change (effect size, r = 0.130; p = 0.025) and moderate gains in their sense of empowerment to contribute to addressing it ( r = 0.286; p < 0.001). Participants also made statistically significant gains in their ability to identify which climate solutions have high or low impact on future warming. High-impact solutions are policies and actions that cut GHG emissions substantively and in the near term, thereby enabling lower cumulative emissions and, therefore, lower warming (e.g., 12,27 ). In contrast, low-impact solutions take time to scale or have little effect on net emissions, allowing GHG accumulation and, therefore, warming, to continue (e.g., 28 ). These gains in participant knowledge were particularly strong for carbon pricing ( r = 0.514; p < 0.001), which has high impact in the real world 12 , 29 . Participants also made moderate gains in identifying cutting methane and other non-CO 2 GHG emissions 27 ( r = 0.220; p < 0.001) and improving the energy efficiency of buildings 30 ( r = 0.195; p = 0.001) as high-impact solutions. Participants’ ability to identify some widely-promoted but low-impact policies also improved (Table 2 ). These changes were small but statistically significant for soil carbon sequestration 31 ( r = 0.190; p = 0.001), moderate for afforestation 28 ( r = 0.325; p < 0.001), and large for increasing R&D for new zero-carbon energy sources 32 ( r = 0.479; p < 0.001). Table 2 Summary statistics for Wilcoxon signed-rank tests comparing pre- and post-En-ROADS survey responses for each outcome variable. Statistically significant p- values ( p ≤ 0.05) and Wilcoxon effect sizes that are small ( r \(\:\approx\:\) 0.1), medium ( r \(\:\approx\:\) 0.3), or large ( r ≥ 0.5) are shown in bold. Pre Post Dependent variable N Mean SD Mean SD W p -value Effect size ( r ) Climate change affect: Personal importance of cc 296 3.828 0.413 3.868 0.377 64 0.025 0.130 Empowerment to address cc 294 3.034 0.700 3.201 0.659 727 < 0.001 0.286 Climate solutions : Carbon price 289 0.557 0.498 0.869 0.339 428 < 0.001 0.514 Methane & non-CO 2 GHGs 289 0.550 0.498 0.685 0.465 1925 < 0.001 0.220 Energy efficiency: buildings 289 0.488 0.501 0.609 0.489 2128 0.001 0.195 Energy efficiency: transport 289 0.443 0.498 0.381 0.486 3552 0.086 0.101 Carbon capture tech 289 0.339 0.474 0.308 0.462 2912 0.376 0.052 Electrify transport 289 0.301 0.460 0.266 0.443 2571 0.308 0.060 New zero carbon energy 289 0.505 0.501 0.194 0.396 6519 < 0.001 0.479 Sequester soil carbon 289 0.173 0.379 0.097 0.296 799 0.001 0.190 Plant trees 289 0.221 0.416 0.080 0.271 1344 < 0.001 0.325 We asked whether holding En-ROADS simulation sessions online led to different learning outcomes than in-person sessions. We found no statistically significant differences in pre- to post-En-ROADS gains from virtual and in-person sessions from almost all outcome variables, except for carbon capture technology (Table S2). Note that the versions of En-ROADS used in these simulations (En-ROADS versions 2.7.38, from April 2021, to 23.10.0, from October 2023) included fewer constraints on the scaling and impact of carbon capture technology than more recent releases (as of the time of writing, the current release is v. 25.6.0) 23 . Interview-based analyses Semi-structured interviews enabled us to ask participants about the impact of En-ROADS and the reasons for any changes in their knowledge, affect, and intended actions around climate change. Combined deductive and inductive coding 33 yielded five major themes with a set of 28 codes. Themes were related to learning about climate change and its potential solutions (Table 3 ); the personal, emotional, and social impacts of the simulation (Table 4 ); and motivation to act spurred by the experience (Table 5 ). Below, we explain how interviewees’ comments address each of our research questions (RQs; see Methods). Table 3 Themes and codes related to learning about climate change and its potential solutions from qualitative analyses of interview data. Exemplar quotes are provided for each code. Note that ‘cc’ refers to ‘climate change.’ Theme Code Explanation of code Exemplar quote Title/Position Sector CC insights from sim Better informed: policies and high-leverage action Simulation increased awareness and understanding of climate change science and evidence. But my biggest takeaway was that things I assumed to move the needle didn't really all that much VP Social Impact, Sustainability Tech Better informed: scale of problem and solutions needed Simulation increased awareness and understanding of climate change policies and about which actions are effective at a large scale. I think a lot of times, especially as someone who is not deep in this, or a technical practitioner in this space, I was surprised at how many different variables actually go into thinking about the transition itself. Senior Manager Finance High impact of carbon pricing Simulation delivered new insights about the impact of carbon pricing. Yeah, I think the CO 2 price that is the biggest, biggest one. This is the main outcome for me. Regional Group Spokesperson NGO Interactive interface impact on learning En-ROADS visual features supported learning The visual features of En-ROADS (e.g. graphs, sea-level rise maps) enhanced their engagement, learning experience, and ability to recall aspects they learned. So I think that did sort of hit home to me like with the, the actual visual impact was probably the thing that made me feel the most sense of urgency as opposed to, like, the temperature number. Policy Fellow NGO Simulation makes cc and its solutions accessible Interactions with En-ROADS enhanced their ability to understand complex climate issues and policies and delineate differing problems and solutions. [With En-ROADS] you have capability to show what the impact of the solutions can have on the economy… of our countries. So … [users] are able, more easily, to participate in policymaking…. You know, [En-ROADS] is a great tool to have interaction between communities between the people and the leaders UNCCD COP President Gov’t Interactive aspect of En-ROADS enhanced learning The ability to interact with En-ROADS enhanced their engagement, learning experience, and ability to recall what they learned. I think actually being able to play with those dials ... really etched in my mind - [it] was really easy to understand in a way that having read a lot and heard a lot, wasn't as clear as it was with the tool. Foreign Service Officer Gov’t Table 4 Themes and codes related to personal, emotional and social impacts of the simulation from qualitative analyses of interview data. Exemplar quotes are provided for each code. Theme Code Explanation of code Exemplar quote Title/Position Sector Personal and emotional impact of simulation Increased confidence about taking action Simulation cemented participant's knowledge and increased their sense of confidence in their ability to take meaningful action. Before I had this conflicting feeling like A) climate is the only thing that actually matters for like, all of our future, and B) I should not invest in that space, because I lack the right knowledge. And I feel very much different about that now... I feel like I have meaningfully more information and knowledge. Chief Executive Officer Tech Increased urgency Simulation increased participant's sense of urgency about the need to take climate action. I think even though I felt before that this was urgent, it also made me feel … where the urgency might be, and there's this tool that can tell people … we need to do this right now. Foreign Service Officer Gov’t Simulation spurs motivation and hope Simulation made participants feel more motivated to address climate change and more hopeful about climate solutions. I was excited by it, because I imagined leaders who are using that as a tool to be able to prioritize and identify where resources should be put given direct impact on the climate, so I mean, that's good. Foreign Service Officer Gov’t Simulation spurs sense of being overwhelmed, disheartened Simulation made participants feel overwhelmed about the scale of climate action needed and disheartened about the prospects of climate action at scale. The one takeaway is, if we pull all the levers, you know, we will be in better shape, but not all the way to what we might expect as a sort of stable point…. This is an effort of throwing the brakes on and …what the model suggests is that if you fully apply the brakes, you might not be able to stop the vehicle. And that's a pretty sobering reality. Mayor Gov’t Feeling both motivated/ hopeful and overwhelmed/ disheartened Simulation spurred both hope and a sense of being overwhelmed by the scale of action needed. Participant is holding this dissonance. The simulation really, it provoked a lot of shock. It's not that I don't feel like there aren't opportunities to change. But just stepping back and looking at that big, big picture was again, for me, a holy crap moment.... But you know, I don't see how it's not going to have to happen…. Mayor Gov’t Simulation causes personal cc connection and growth Interactions with En-ROADS assisted their ability to relate to climate issues and policies at a more personal level. It was an emotional reaction as a result. I mean, they weren't crying on the call, but they did say that it really made them think, Oh my God, what am I doing to my children? Head, Responsible Investment Finance Transformative impact on role of cc in worldview Simulation had a transformative impact by changing how climate change is integrated into their worldview, personal mission, and/or career goals. It gave me a better command of the material and the rationale for policy change. My job is to… lead people, but inherent in leading is persuasion. … it strengthened my ability to persuade. Mayor Gov’t Impact of social interactions during sim Social interactions in simulation key to learning and action Interactions with other people during the simulation played a key role in how participant learned and their sense of agency to take action afterwards. So that's a very important factor, to give a thought of group feeling and fighting for going down and to, to push us to work together and to be creative. Regional Group Spokesperson NGO Simulation spurs sense of collective efficacy Experiencing the simulation with others gave participant a sense of collective efficacy that they think is important for collective action in the real world. I think the governor was engaged, our team was engaged for folks who don't live and breathe this, I think it's a really good demonstration of the breadth of, you know, what's required, and also the impacts of an action. Policy Advisor Gov’t Facilitators impact simulation experience and outcomes Participant felt that the facilitator was a trusted expert whose abilities contributed to their learning and positive simulation outcomes. He rocks and he has the experience and then he can do more, an hour than some of our ambassadors are able to do in two or three. State Coordinator NGO Table 5 Codes related to the theme of climate action spurred by the simulation from qualitative analyses of interview data. Exemplar quotes are provided for each code. Theme Code Explanation of code Exemplar quote Title/Position Sector Climate action spurred by simulation Intent to act at personal level Because of the simulation, participant intends to reduce their personal carbon footprint and/or advocate that others in their social networks take climate action. I think it's already starting to influence the way we think about things. For example, when I'm buying a car, should I go for electric? Sustainable Engineering Tech Intent to act at organizational level Intent to advocate for large-scale policies Because of the simulation, participant intends to foster climate action by their organization. Because of the simulation, participant intends to advocate for climate solutions at the regional, national, or international level. But with this information from En-ROADS. So I thought, okay, now we have to really push the electric cars in cars in the company. Managing Director, Chief Digital Officer Tech There's an opportunity to take that model out and get in front of governments, state governments, local governments around the world. CEO Gov’t Recommending En-ROADS to others Participant is recommending that other groups experience En-ROADS simulations, including those in finance, energy, manufacturing, local to international governments, and the US Congress My initial thought is to just like, send it to everyone I know who's thinking about these things. CEO Tech Actions taken at personal level Simulation spurred participants to reduce their own carbon footprint and/or advocate that others in their social networks take climate action. It'll be part of my conscious now…. as an example, this is miniscule, but last night, it was borderline whether the air conditioner need to be on or not. So, … frankly, because of just having that session, I'm like we can do without it…. So just small thoughts like that, that wouldn't have existed…. Police Commander Gov’t Actions taken at organizational level Simulation spurred participants to take climate action at the level of their company, non-profit, network of policymakers, etc. “I think we will be more ambitious.” Mayor of a northeastern US city Gov’t Encouraging investment in RE/divestment from ff Simulation spurred participant to work on increasing investment in renewable energy technologies and divestment from fossil fuels. We did a little bit of a walkthrough with the family about … how we've ramped down on traditional energy and how we've scaled up on sustainables and showing them examples of companies that they have now, their capital has helped bring to life. So that was another way for them to connect the concepts to action. COO Finance Advocating for larger scale policies Simulation spurred participants to advocate for pro-climate policies at the organizational, regional, or national level. And if we just focus on ourselves, and we stay quiet, and don't use our corporate voice, we're going to miss a huge opportunity…. I just explained,… the whole problem is we have to move systems, we can't move like one thing at a time, … and the only way you move systems is for all of us to not just do the work, but to speak it so that you know, it transforms … what is normalized … and that for that you need policy and advocacy. And we need to be louder, we need to be using our voice. VP Social Impact, Sustainability Tech Actively sharing En-ROADS to influence decision-making Participant is actively sharing En-ROADS with others in their organization or social network with the intent of motivating informed climate action. So [we] were approached, for instance, and the Secretary of State on regional and also on the national level from the Green Party. And we asked for a talk with him how to bring it to politics, how to make it more popular [with politicians], which need to have En-ROADS on their computers ... Spokes-person NGO RQ1. How does engagement with En-ROADS compare to other ways of learning about climate change and its solutions? Most interviewees said the simulation improved their understanding of the scale and urgency of the climate crisis and high-impact policies to address it (Fig. 1 , Table 3 , Extended Data Fig. 1 ). Almost all thought that the interactive nature of En-ROADS simulations enhanced learning and made its complex concepts more accessible, e.g., “If you get more interaction, you can keep and take more away…. Doing something and really playing with the levers it's much more effective than only reading a text, listening to a podcast, or watching a video.” - Vice President of Management Communication for an energy utility company. RQ2. Does engagement with En-ROADS affect participants’ sense of urgency about climate change and its solutions? The simulation experience aroused strong and varied emotions among interviewees (Fig. 1 , Table 4 ). Most described an increased sense of urgency about climate change, greater motivation to act, and greater hope about climate solutions. These positive emotions were sometimes accompanied by negative emotions, with about a third of the interviewees saying they felt both more hopeful and more overwhelmed or disheartened (Fig. 1 ). En-ROADS simulations sometimes triggered strong emotional responses, as shown by these quotes from participants: “Actually I think quite a lot of people were like, oh my God,… it’s a nightmare. We (sic) got to do this. That was the kind of reaction… that came out of quite a lot of people. But from my perspective, that's actually quite good because it makes them think … there's a reason there's urgency here.” - Head of Responsible Investment of a major investment firm. “I feel scared… I can't even stop thinking about it. What if this happened? How we could (sic) manage this planet? Literally, in a couple of days, four days … I was not me…. I was not myself…. I wasn't the same person now….” – Development Lead for a major technology company. RQ3. Do social interactions during engagement with En-ROADS play a role in participants’ sense of collective efficacy and willingness to take collective action in the real world? Interviews also highlighted the importance of social interactions during the simulation, which a quarter of interviewees described as influencing what they learned and how they intended to act on climate (Fig. 1 , Table 4 ). Social interactions gave many interviewees a sense of collective efficacy, which contributed to their motivation to share En-ROADS to influence decision-making (Fig. 1 , Table 4 ), e.g., “Certainly, as we went through, I think there was a collective sense that emerged early on and let's find things that … grow the economy and reduce CO 2 emissions.” – US Congressperson. “I have persuaded my colleagues in the boards of [redacted] to make a common session, where we all together … apply … En-ROADS and … answer our questions about what is the best strategy …. I think we need … the security and also the safety that everybody knows about the problem, everybody knows about the mechanisms and the measures that you can have in order to tackle the problem.” – Chief Operating Officer of an electric utility. RQ4. Does engagement with En-ROADS affect what participants plan or do to address to climate change in the real world? Most participants described recent or planned climate actions that they attributed to engaging with En-ROADS (Fig. 1 , Table 5 ). These ranged from cutting their own carbon emissions to advocating for climate action in their personal networks, sharing En-ROADS with others, or advocating for pro-climate decisions in their organizations or by governments, for example: “It helped us to see that … policy is such a big needle mover… We didn't even have a policy team at my company when we did this exercise and now we do. And we’ve made it a huge part of that team as they are getting up and running to say, ‘we should be active on climate policy as much as we can.’” – Vice President of Social Impact and Sustainability for a technology firm. “...it's being used as that real tool to really get people mobilized and motivated and thinking about it and understanding the challenge and taking this serious.” - Head of Responsible Investment for a major bank. RQ5. How do outcomes differ for participants who already have a background in sustainability? Interviewees with a prior focus on climate change and sustainability described making gains in their knowledge about climate change, its solutions, and their personal connection to the issue from En-ROADS simulations (Fig. 1 ). Many said they were better informed about the scale and urgency of the problem and high-impact actions to address it. Almost half said it increased their confidence in their knowledge about climate solutions and ability to act. The results suggest that even individuals who are actively and professionally engaged with sustainability still found value in the simulation experience. The impact of En-ROADS on sustainability-focused interviewees also differed from other interviewees in some ways. While about half of sustainability-focused interviewees said the simulation made them feel motivated and hopeful, they were less likely to feel hopeful than other interviewees (Fig. 1 ). Among sustainability-focused interviewees who gained hope and motivation, a greater proportion also described feeling overwhelmed (Fig. 1 ), e.g.: “Before I felt emboldened by seeing what did work, [but] I felt …really frustrated and shocked at what didn't work.” - Vice President of Social Impact and Sustainability for a technology firm. “I guess it's always a tradeoff between… urgency and frustration isn't (sic) the right word, but just being … bogged down [with] the enormity of the task.” – Policy Fellow at a sustainability-focused NGO. However, sustainability-focused interviewees were more likely to take action at an organizational, collective, level (vs. individual action), and found that the simulation generated a sense of collective efficacy (Fig. 1 ), e.g., “Now the rubber meets the road, because now we have to actually do things like set an internal price on carbon and create a carbon fund….” – Vice President of Social Impact, Sustainability Government officials are a key audience in our study because of their direct agency over climate and energy policy. We find that most became better informed about the scale of the problem and high-impact actions to address it. They gained confidence about taking action and their sense of urgency grew (Fig. 1 ). A far greater percentage of government vs. private sector interviewees said the experience enhanced their intent and ability to advocate for policy change (Fig. 1 ), e.g., “And I truly do believe that it has given me … deliberate, intentional change and communication with those people around me. And if the conversations can be had, then action can ensue.” – Mayor of a city in the western US. “I really think that the more we can work [with] industry [for] collaboration legislatively… I think it’s a really important thing to do.” – US Congressperson. Government officials described recommending En-ROADS to others and having a sense that it affected their personal connection to climate change at rates similar to other groups (Fig. 1 ). Discussion Our mixed quantitative and qualitative analyses show that interactive engagement with the En-ROADS climate policy simulator has a significant impact on how people in positions of leadership think, feel, and intend to act on climate. Interaction with En-ROADS increased participants’ insights into climate solutions, aroused their emotional engagement with climate change, and motivated many to take personal climate action or advocate for action by their organizations or governments. Unlike most prior research on the efficacy of climate simulations (e.g., 20,21,34,35 ), our sample includes people who influence government policies, major investment portfolios, the development of new technologies, and the strategies of energy companies. Interviewees attributed their learning outcomes to the interactive nature of the En-ROADS simulations (Table 3 , Fig. 1 ), with almost all reporting that it made this complex issue more accessible and enhanced learning. Our results suggest that engaging leaders and their teams with En-ROADS is a useful approach to advance climate decision-making at the organizational and policy levels. Both En-ROADS Climate Workshops and Climate Action Simulations (referred to together herein as “interactive En-ROADS simulations”) can be rich social experiences. Participants work together to decide which climate solutions to explore, fostering deliberation and collaboration as they explain their ideas and try to convince others about their preferred solutions 21 . These social experiences likely play an important role in the impact of En-ROADS simulations. Social interactions give rise to emotions 36 , the intensity of which are thought to drive climate change risk perception, engagement, and intent to act 37 . Both survey- and interview-based analyses show that interactive En-ROADS simulations aroused emotions, which, in turn, influenced participants’ motivation to act. Survey respondents made statistically significant pre- to post-En-ROADS gains in their feelings of personal importance of climate change and empowerment to contribute to addressing it (Table 2 ). Simulations held in virtual and in-person formats had similar outcomes (Table S2), indicating that the growing reliance on virtual settings for communication and education does not pose a barrier to scaling interactive En-ROADS simulations. Many interviewees described experiencing a range of emotions, including an increased sense of urgency, feeling overwhelmed or disheartened, and feeling motivated or hopeful (Fig. 1 ). Many referred to their heightened sense of urgency as motivation to act (Tables 4 – 5 ), perhaps to mitigate negative feelings, e.g., “…even though I felt before that this was urgent, it also made me feel … where the urgency might be, and there's this tool that can tell people … we need to do this right now.” – Foreign Service Officer. “… a lot of what we're trying to do ... is win hearts and minds internally. And so as a result, we ended up [doing] a number of different workshops for quite big groups…. [En-ROADS is] being used as that real tool to … really get people mobilized and motivated….” – Head of Responsible Investments for a major investment firm. Both anticipating and taking action can mitigate the negative emotional responses to climate change by generating positive emotions, such as a sense of agency and hope 36 . In En-ROADS simulations, participants who are confronted by the scale and urgency of the climate challenge may be more willing to engage with that sense of urgency because they are also offered agency and feedback about the impact of their simulated actions. The workshops provide a means to translate initial distress into proactive engagement. Thus, negative and positive emotions may work together to spur action. While it is beyond the scope of the current research to statistically analyze a comprehensive model of how En-ROADS simulations affect learning, affective engagement, and intent to take action, its findings are consistent with constructivist learning about complex systems 7 , 38 , social cognitive theory 39 , and dual-process models of decision-making 17 . En-ROADS simulations provide a feedback-rich, social learning environment that offers a means for participants to construct new mental models about the complex climate and energy systems. Participants work together to decide on and simulate climate solutions in En-ROADS, which can foster a belief that they can take effective action and, thereby enhances a sense of self- and collective efficacy. This sense of efficacy underpins social cognitive theory 39 , 40 . Their emotional responses engage automatic and intuitive processing (System 1), while interacting with En-ROADS supports analytic reasoning (System 2) 41 . These two forms of processing can work together to drive motivation to take informed action, especially when emotional responses are combined with actionable insights and a sense of agency 37 . Both the quantitative and qualitative results suggest that En-ROADS is an effective tool to engage people who have a prior focus on sustainability (Tables 3 – 5 , Fig. 1 ). These interviewees were more likely than their counterparts to describe acting at the organizational level, rather than only at the personal level (Fig. 1 ). Such actions include steering investment decisions away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy, setting a regional shadow price for GHG emissions, an organization-internal, or country-wide price on carbon emissions, and transitioning their company’s vehicle fleet to electric vehicles (see exemplar quotes above in Table 5 ). Interviewees with a sustainability focus were also more likely than their counterparts to describe a sense of collective efficacy from their simulation experiences (Fig. 1 , Table 4 ), suggesting that they recognize the importance of collective action on climate. Many described using En-ROADS to advocate for pro-climate decisions or policies (Extended Data Fig. 1 ). Unlike audiences who first need to understand the reality and scale of climate change, sustainability-focused professionals and leaders are already familiar with the climate crisis and hold positions in which they are charged with addressing it 42 . They recognized that En-ROADS gave them new insights and a tool that they are well-positioned to deploy. Limitations and future work Limitations of this study include: the limited time leaders and professionals have available to participate in workshops or to complete surveys or interviews; self-selection of participants in both En-ROADS simulations and survey or interview completion; and a sample drawn mostly from the US and exclusively from the Global North. Participation in the simulation, pre- and post-surveys, and interviews was voluntary. Participants may be more likely to have a prior interest in climate issues than their counterparts who chose not to participate. We addressed the possibility of non-response bias by comparing the pre-survey responses of participants who provided matched surveys to those who only provided pre-surveys. We found no statistically significant differences (see Methods; Extended Data Table 1 ), despite having a sample size that was sufficient to detect small effect sizes (Cohen’s d > 0.2) with a power of 0.8, given observed standard deviations in our data, indicating no evidence for non-response bias. Semi-structured interviews may also introduce biases, as participants may provide socially desirable responses or overemphasize the simulation’s influence due to recall bias or be influenced by the level of mutual trust and rapport between interviewee and interviewer 43 , which we did not measure. Future research could include a sample from more diverse industries, political ideologies, countries, and climate engagement levels. It could also incorporate measures of simulation outcomes that do not rely on participants’ responses, such as analysis of participants’ public sphere communications before and after En-ROADS workshops. Lastly, future research could include analysis of causal relationships between gains in knowledge, affect, and intent to act that are fostered by En-ROADS. Implications Our mixed methods approach shows that interactive simulation with En-ROADS has potential to motivate leaders in government, business, and NGOs to take personal climate action and to advocate for their organizations or governments to act. The simulation workshop is an active, social learning experience that often arouses strong emotions and can foster a commitment to learning and doing more. Leaders and professionals experienced a greater sense of urgency and intent to take climate action. They overcame widespread misconceptions about and preference for climate solutions that have little impact on slowing down expected warming this century, such as afforestation 10 . Instead, they were more likely to favor high-impact solutions that cut emissions substantively in the near-term, like pricing carbon 12 and improving energy efficiency in buildings 30 . These improvements in their ability to distinguish high- vs. low-impact climate solutions can help focus their efforts on actions that can make a difference in time. While it may not be possible to attribute formal policy changes directly to En-ROADS simulations, many participants expressed their intent to change organization-internal communication, broader advocacy, organizational strategies, or municipal policies because of their participation. These changes are consistent with early stages of agenda-setting and organizational learning 44 and indicate that simulation-based interventions may influence long-term decision processes. En-ROADS simulations are already used to train leaders in graduate and professional education in many universities and companies 45 . Expanding the use of En-ROADS and other interactive simulations in training sessions, corporate strategic planning, and public forums could help bridge the gap between climate pledges and implementation. Methods We used a mixed methods approach 46 , combining quantitative analysis of pre-/post-simulation survey responses with qualitative analysis of semi-structured interview transcripts. This approach enabled us to not only assess quantitatively the extent to which engaging with En-ROADS is associated with particular outcomes, but also how and why these outcomes occur. Our approach was informed by theories from social psychology, learning science, and climate change communication. Constructivist learning theory and experiential education models support the use of interactive simulations to deliver gains in knowledge about complex climate solutions because simulations provide learner-centered and feedback-rich learning environments 38 . Emotional engagement with climate change, such as sense of urgency or hope about the issue, is linked to climate risk perception and action 17 . Self-efficacy, measured here as reported sense of empowerment, is considered by social cognitive theory to be a key driver of motivation and behavior change 39 . Lastly, the social interactions during En-ROADS workshops include deliberation and collaborative decision-making, which should support participants’ sense of collective efficacy, a driver of pro-social behavior and norm-based action 19 , 40 . Survey-based study Sample and data collection A pre- and post-simulation survey was administered to 949 participants in 37 En-ROADS simulation sessions (Supplementary Table 1). Thirty-four sessions were interactive En-ROADS Climate Workshops . These workshops are interactive experiences, guided by a facilitator, in which participants use En-ROADS to explore their own ideas about actions to limit global warming. These can be one-on-ones or group experiences of any size up to multiple hundred people 23 , 47 . In addition to these workshops, three other sessions were Climate Action Simulations 21 . These are interactive role-plays premised on a fictitious climate summit organized by the United Nations Secretary-General to urgently address climate change. Participants take the roles of leaders from different nations, industries, and civil society groups and negotiate agreements to limit emissions and warming. In both the workshops and role-plays participants seek to develop a set of actions and policies that limit expected warming to “well below 2° C” as specified in the Paris Agreement 48 . Sessions last between one and three hours. Both formats, workshops and role-play simulations, begin with a brief introduction to En-ROADS, its purpose and design principles, underlying structure and assumptions, and user interface. Facilitators often provide an overview of how the simulator is used to support other decision-makers in the same sector as participants. Facilitators briefly introduce the international climate goal 48 and explain to participants that their charge is to agree on a set of actions and policies that are expected to meet this goal. Participants make their own decisions about which climate solutions to implement and work to convince others to agree. They advocate for their favored solution, deliberating with other participants about what should be implemented and why. The facilitator enters consensus decisions into En-ROADS, which provides immediate feedback about many of the expected consequences of their decisions, including global mean temperature rise; climate change impacts such as flooding from sea level rise in any user-specified coastal location, additional deaths from extreme heat, expected decline of crop yields, economic damage, and more; changes in the energy system, including energy sources, costs, and associated emissions; and changes in land use and forestry 23 . Participants engage in an iterative process of deliberating about which climate solutions to implement, working together and with moderation by a facilitator, to understand the impacts of those solutions in the En-ROADS simulator, and returning to deliberations to decide what to do next. Workshops and Climate Action Simulations end with a debrief that aims to cement participants’ insights about the climate and energy systems and their implications for real-world action. Facilitators ask participants for their feelings about being part of the developed scenario and what to do next, professionally and/or privately. Because both the En-ROADS Climate Workshop and En-ROADS Climate Action Simulation have the same learning goals, experiential learning approach, and information provided (via an introductory presentation and the En-ROADS model), we refer to both formats broadly as “En-ROADS simulations.” Our sample includes leaders from companies in the technology, energy, and finance industries; government officials and public servants, including municipal and state government officials, diplomats, and members of the European Commission; and leaders from non-profits focused on climate and energy policy (Supplementary Information, Table 1 ). Leaders and professionals in our sample had limited time for both the simulation and surveys. We therefore kept the survey short and we used the same survey pre- and post-En-ROADS engagement (Supplementary Information, Survey questions). This approach enabled us to include high-level business leaders and government officials and to collect data from a larger sample. Conversely, it precluded research questions about the effects of participants’ sociodemographic traits or sociopolitical values on simulation learning outcomes. However, prior research that relied primarily on students drawn from diverse educational settings (i.e., including high schools, undergraduate and graduate programs, executive MBA programs, and informal educational settings) 20 – 22 showed that interactive simulations with En-ROADS or the related C-ROADS 49 model were effective across participants with diverse ages, genders and identities, and sociopolitical values. Survey questions were designed to elicit whether participants consider climate change to be personally important, feel empowered to take action to combat it, and are able to identify high-impact climate policies and actions. Four-point Likert scales were used because they enabled us to use some of the same survey questions as in prior research 20 , 22 , 25 , thereby opening the potential for future work comparing results across multiple studies. Similarly, some of the questions were adapted from prior research by the Yale Program for Climate Change Communication (e.g., 16 ), which relies on four-point Likert scales. While we broader scales could offer more nuanced measurements, four-point scales balance nuanced measurement with ease of response, opportunities to compare to prior survey instrument results, reliability, and descriptive statistics (e.g., 50 ). We refer to ‘high-impact’ policies and actions as those that can cut emissions rapidly and substantively in the near term, as shown in energy transition research. They include policies that: put a price on carbon, which is associated with rapid emissions cuts in power and industry sectors 12 ; improve the energy efficiency of buildings, such as robust building codes and financial incentives for energy-saving retrofits 30 ; and cutting emissions of methane and other non-CO 2 greenhouse gases with high global warming potentials 27 . In contrast, policies and actions with low impact do little to cut emissions in the near term, take time to scale, or are constrained by cost or other factors. For example, while afforestation may have some long-term climate change mitigation potential, it takes decades for newly planted trees to grow and sequester carbon and that growth is uncertain and vulnerable to outbreaks of pests or disease, fires, and human development 28 . Technological carbon removal is estimated to only sequester about 0.005% of current annual emissions and, even if rapidly scaled, is only likely to sequester less than 1% of annual emissions in 2030 51 . Similarly, sequestering carbon in soils is not permanent and is unlikely to reach its projected potential due to physical limits and social barriers 31 . New technologies for supplying zero-carbon electricity such as nuclear fusion are not expected to contribute significantly to the energy transition until after 2050 32 . The impact of all of these policies are easily explored in En-ROADS. Our survey asks respondents to identify three policies that are “most effective” among a list of policies that include both higher impact policies (i.e., “put a price on carbon,” “cut emissions of methane and other non-CO 2 gases,” and “improve energy efficiency of buildings”) and lower impact policies (i.e., “plant trees,” “sequester carbon in soils,” “carbon capture technology,” “R&D for a new zero-carbon energy supply”). Survey completion was voluntary. Participants were either sent a link to the pre-survey within a week prior to the simulation session or were asked to complete the pre-survey at the start of the session. The post-survey was administered immediately after or within about a week of the simulation session. Surveys included a question that asked participants for their written consent to participate after a brief explanation of the purpose of the associated research, the fact that individual survey responses would be kept confidential, and the voluntary nature of participating (Supplementary Information, Consent to participate). They also included a question asking participants to provide their name, which was used to match pre- and post-survey responses. Survey responses were de-identified after matching. Survey instruments and administration, including informed consent procedures, were approved by the UMass Lowell Institutional Review Board (Protocol 21-024-ROO-EXM) and were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (Clinical trial number: not applicable). The dataset 52 from this research is freely available at: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.30795845 . Quantitative analysis of survey responses We included respondents in pre- to post-En-ROADS analyses if they provided matched pre- and post-surveys (about 32% of all participants). Given that survey completion was voluntary, it is possible that participants who felt more strongly about the topic, whether positively or negatively, were more likely to respond than others. We tested for potential response bias by using Mann-Whitney U tests to compare the pre-survey responses from participants who only provided pre-surveys ( N 1 = 503 to 507, depending on the survey question) to those who provided matched pre- and post-surveys ( N 2 = 289 to 292, Extended Data Table 1 ). We estimated the power of these analyses using the ‘pwr’ package 53 in R, with N 1 = 503, N 2 = 289, a = 0.05, and a Cohen’s d effect size of 0.2. The resulting estimate was 0.8, which is generally considered to be sufficient power to avoid Type II errors 54 , or to incorrectly accept the null hypothesis that there are no differences between pre-survey responses with or without matched post-surveys. As participants learn about the consequences of climate change and its potential solutions in En-ROADS simulations 21 , 25 , we hypothesized that both their sense of personal connection or importance of climate change and their sense of empowerment to address it would increase. The survey question about “personal importance” asked “how important is the issue of climate change to you personally?”, which participants responded to on a four-point Likert scale (Very important, Somewhat important, Not very important, Not at all important). A four-point ordinal scale was used to code these responses, with a value of four corresponding to “Very important” and one corresponding to “Not at all important”. The question about “empowerment” asked “How do you feel about being able to contribute personally to address the issue of climate change?”, also provided responses on a four-point Likert scale (Very empowered, Somewhat empowered, Not very empowered, Not at all empowered), coded as a four-point ordinal variable. We coded outcome variables for participants’ ability to identify high-impact solutions as binary responses with each solution identified as either high-impact or not high-impact. We used Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to compare paired pre- and post-survey responses for each outcome variable (Table 2 ). The power for these analyses was again estimated using the “pwr” ( https://github.com/heliosdrm/pwr ) package in R with N = 289, a = 0.05, and a Cohen’s d effect size of 0.2, with a resulting estimate of 0.9. Interview-based study Sample and data collection We recruited interviewees who were in leadership positions from the En-ROADS sessions listed above (Supplementary Table 1), as well as from interactive sessions with similar groups or with individual leaders (Table 1 ; N = 42). Because we are especially interested in the impact of En-ROADS simulations on policymakers, our sample includes a disproportionate ( N = 20) number of government officials. It also includes leaders from the private sector ( N = 18), including companies in energy ( N = 4), technology ( N = 6), and finance ( N = 8). Lastly, we include several leaders from NGOs focused on climate and energy issues ( N = 4). We used information about participants’ positions, background, and education as well as data they shared in interviews to assess whether they were already engaged with sustainability and climate change prior to En-ROADS simulations (Table 1 ). We consider participants to be “working in sustainability” if their job description includes reporting on and managing sustainability initiatives or promoting environmental and/or climate change issues in their organizations 55 . Participation was voluntary and we obtained participants’ consent through written communication via email and/or verbal communication (as approved by the UMass Lowell Institutional Review Board, Protocol 21-024-ROO-EXM). Interviews were semi-structured, using questions designed by the research team but allowing the interviewer and interviewee to explore new questions or topics that arose during the interview (see Supplement, Semi-structured interview questions). Interview questions were designed to elicit interviewees’ recollection of the En-ROADS simulation, any insights that surprised them, if and how the simulation changed the way they think or feel about climate change and its solutions, and if and how it affected their own plans to act on climate. We also asked for interviewees’ feedback about En-ROADS, the simulation experience, and their recommendations regarding how it might be used in the future. Interviews were approximately 30 minutes and held on Zoom or Microsoft Teams from three to twelve months after the interviewee participated in an En-ROADS session. While all interviewees spoke English and agreed to be interviewed in English, we provided English-German interpretation for a few words or phrases for two native German speakers who were not fully fluent in English. Audio and video were recorded, with subsequent transcription using Otter.ai ( https://otter.ai/ ) ( N = 37) or Zoom transcripts ( N = 5) and manual adjustment to account for accuracy of the automatic translations. Qualitative analysis of interview data: coding themes We iteratively developed a set of coding themes, guided by a priori research questions and themes that emerged from the interview transcripts themselves. Research questions included the following and refer to “engagement with En-ROADS” as interactive workshops or simulations with other participants, rather than exploring the model individually. RQ1. How do interactive En-ROADS simulations compare to other ways of learning about climate change and its solutions? RQ2. Does engagement with En-ROADS affect participants’ sense of urgency about climate change and its solutions? If so, how and why? RQ3.Do social interactions during engagement with En-ROADS play a role in participants’ sense of collective efficacy and willingness to take collective action in the real world? If so, how and why? RQ4. Does engagement with En-ROADS affect what participants plan or do to address to climate change in the real world? If so, how and why? RQ5. How do outcomes differ for participants who already have a background in sustainability, if at all? These research questions link back to the theoretical underpinnings of our study. RQ1 draws on constructivist learning theory and experiential education, which posit that interactive, feedback-rich environments support deeper understanding of complex systems and climate change in particular 7 , 38 . RQ2 is rooted in affective science and the role of emotional responses in climate risk perception and motivation to act 17 , 37 . RQ3 is underpinned by social cognitive theory and literature on collective action and social norms 19 , 40 . RQ4 aligns with self-efficacy theory and how beliefs about one’s ability to act predict behavior change 39 . RQ5 examining how outcomes vary for those already working in sustainability, integrates these frameworks by considering how prior identity and domain-specific knowledge shape learning, emotion, and action. Two researchers (authors RLC and LC) first worked independently to develop themes and codes within those themes from interview data (with each coder using at least 32 interviews). This initial independent effort led to eight themes and 48 codes identified by RLC and seven themes and 53 codes identified by LC. The researchers then worked together to develop a shared set of theme and code definitions, consolidating to avoid redundancies and ensure that each theme and code was clearly defined. These themes and codes were reviewed and refined by a third researcher (author JRV). The resulting codes included five themes that contained 25 codes (Tables 3 – 5 ; Figure S1 ). Authors RLC and LC then used the codes independently to analyze the full set of 42 interviews using Nvivo software 56 to determine the number of interviewees who made a statement associated with each code. Cohen’s Kappa coefficients for inter-coder agreement (ICA) were calculated for each category and for overall agreement across the analysis ( K = 0.86, Extended Data Fig. 1 ) 57 . Declarations Author contributions J.N.R.-V., K.R., and R.L.C. conceptualized and planned this study. B.P., J.D.S., A.P.J., and J.N.R.-V. secured funding to conduct the work. En-ROADS workshops were facilitated by J.D.S., A.P.J., F.K., K.N., and B. P.. Data analyses and visualizations were conducted by J.N.R.-V., R.L.C., K. R., P.N., and L.C., with input from J.D.S.. J.N.R.-V. wrote the main manuscript, with feedback and editing by F.K. and J.D.S.. Acknowledgements We would like to thank key co-developers of the En-ROADS simulator and its associated interactive experiences, including Ellie Johnston, Lori Siegel, Charles Jones, Travis Franck, and Elizabeth Sawin. We are also grateful to the many participants in this study who generously gave their time and shared their perspectives on how interactive En-ROADS simulations affected their understanding of and motivation for climate action. Funding This work was supported by the Sequoia Climate Foundation. The views expressed are solely those of the authors. Conflict of interest All authors declare no conflict of interest. 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N. et al. in figshare (2025). https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.30795845 pwr: Basic Functions for Power Analysis. R package version 1.3-0 (2020). Cohen, J. A power primer. Psychol Bull 112, 155–159 (1992). Wright, C. & Nyberg, D. Corporations and climate change: An overview. WIREs Climate Change 15, e919 (2024). https://doi.org/https:// doi.org/10.1002/wcc.919 Jackson, K. & Bazeley, P. Qualitative Data Analysis with NVivo . Third Edition edn, (Sage Publications, 2019). McHugh, M. L. Interrater reliability: the kappa statistic. Biochemia medica 22, 276–282 (2012). Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Supplementary Files ExtendedDataFigure1.jpg Extended Data Figure 1. Percentage of interviewees ( N = 42) whose statements fell within each qualitative analysis code. The percentages of interviewees that both coders assigned to a given code are shown in dark blue, while those assigned by only one coder are shown in light blue. Kappa values for intercoder agreement (ICA) for each code are shown on the right of each bar. ExtendedDataTable1.docx SupplementaryInformation.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 04 Feb, 2026 Reviews received at journal 27 Jan, 2026 Reviews received at journal 26 Jan, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 21 Dec, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 20 Dec, 2025 Reviewers agreed at journal 17 Dec, 2025 Reviewers invited by journal 16 Dec, 2025 Editor assigned by journal 08 Dec, 2025 Submission checks completed at journal 08 Dec, 2025 First submitted to journal 04 Dec, 2025 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8283334","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":561690510,"identity":"060e1f24-b545-4944-9614-cd830f49fb91","order_by":0,"name":"Juliette N. 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1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1639697,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHeatmap showing the percentage of each category or sector of interviewees for whom each code was observed. \u003c/strong\u003eValues shown represent the average percentage of interviewees with a particular code across coders. Interviewees with a prior focus on sustainability are shown in the column labeled “Sust,” while those in different fields are shown in the column labeled “NoSust.”\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"Figure1.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8283334/v1/9515ffbf6c53fbc009f82b20.jpg"},{"id":98785494,"identity":"3b735aa6-8520-4450-8676-e55fe6181695","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-22 12:43:16","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":3088504,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8283334/v1/200d4622-442d-4963-86f7-6c0a7a5d46f1.pdf"},{"id":98759561,"identity":"2a0610c4-37e3-4994-b9b4-051ce9c8f84c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-22 09:49:21","extension":"jpg","order_by":2,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":1007031,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eExtended Data Figure 1. Percentage of interviewees (\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eN\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/em\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e = 42) whose statements fell within each qualitative analysis code.\u003c/strong\u003e The percentages of interviewees that both coders assigned to a given code are shown in dark blue, while those assigned by only one coder are shown in light blue. Kappa values for intercoder agreement (ICA) for each code are shown on the right of each bar.\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"ExtendedDataFigure1.jpg","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8283334/v1/9e32242c129b12931a720f34.jpg"},{"id":98780665,"identity":"0af0d43f-b711-4d15-a2cf-137ba3836614","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-22 12:31:33","extension":"docx","order_by":3,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":21411,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"ExtendedDataTable1.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8283334/v1/2396c1d8fb6dbd12eddd18bb.docx"},{"id":98759566,"identity":"b608303f-fb02-4185-bb30-b074b87a731d","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-12-22 09:49:21","extension":"docx","order_by":4,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":402835,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"SupplementaryInformation.docx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8283334/v1/ab24258db319672ef724ca0f.docx"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Interactive simulation with En-ROADS spurs climate action among decision-makers","fulltext":[{"header":"Introduction","content":"\u003cp\u003eMeeting international climate goals requires unprecedented cuts in fossil fuel use and acceleration in energy efficiency, renewable energy adoption, and end-use electrification\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. But the gap between the emissions expected from current national policies and those compatible with the remaining carbon budget is wide\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, with current policies expected to yield about 3.2\u0026deg;C of warming by 2100\u003csup\u003e3\u003c/sup\u003e. With inadequate national action, climate action by a broad set of societal actors, including sub-national governments, businesses, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), is increasingly important\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. As of 2023 more than 4,200 companies representing almost 40% of the global economy had climate action plans approved by the Science-Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, with some companies reporting emissions cuts of more than 35% from 2015 to 2019\u003csup\u003e6\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eEmissions pledges of sub-national entities are often voluntary. Implementation and success therefore depend on those in leadership roles to respond to the urgency of emissions reductions, understand which climate actions are effective, and work to implement them. However, both leaders and the general public are vulnerable to widespread misconceptions, disinformation, and greenwashing that work against meaningful action\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR8\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. For example, while many American mayors are committed to climate action, insufficient knowledge often hinders their implementation of evidence-based climate policies\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR9\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e9\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Similarly, both the American public\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e and corporations favor\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR11\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e11\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e afforestation as a top climate solution. But planting trees does not reduce fossil fuel emissions, the largest contributor to global warming\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, and does little to sequester carbon in the near-term because of delays in land acquisition and tree growth. Meanwhile, high-impact solutions including carbon pricing\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e enjoy far less public support\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR13\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e13\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThere is an extensive literature about the failure of traditional risk communication strategies to spur evidence-based climate action. Especially in the US and other English-speaking countries, climate change is highly politicized and disinformation and misconceptions about it are widespread\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR15\" citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR16\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e16\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Misconceptions pose a barrier to learning about climate change, especially when those misconceptions are reinforced by one\u0026rsquo;s social group\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR14\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e14\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Traditional communication approaches often failed to generate intrinsic emotional engagement and a sense of urgency, which are strong predictors of action\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Lastly, individuals are often reluctant to talk about climate change because doing so goes against perceived social norms\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR18\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e18\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. This reticence only furthers the tendency to underestimate others\u0026rsquo; concerns about climate changes, creating a \u0026ldquo;spiral of silence\u0026rdquo;\u003csup\u003e18\u003c/sup\u003e or \u0026ldquo;false social reality\u0026rdquo; \u003csup\u003e19\u003c/sup\u003e that further suppresses the communication that is needed to build consensus for action.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eInteractive simulations have been proposed to overcome the limitations of traditional risk communication strategies\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e by enabling people to experiment and learn for themselves and to do so in an emotionally engaging and social way\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR21\" citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Here we use the En-ROADS climate policy simulator to ask whether interactive simulation-based workshops can inform decision-makers in government, business, and civil society about high-impact climate solutions and motivate them to act. En-ROADS enables users to test a wide range of climate mitigation actions and receive immediate feedback on their effect on energy production and costs, land use, greenhouse (GHG) emissions, temperature, and a variety of physical, health, and economic impacts of climate change\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. User-specified inputs include 17 policy or action sliders to encourage or discourage the use of fossil fuels, renewable, nuclear, and other energy supplies; energy efficiency in transport, buildings, and industry; electrification of transport, buildings, and industry; land use; and non-CO-\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e GHGs \u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Each of these 17 sliders has detailed settings that enable users to specify details for each policy area, such as selecting start and end times, stringency, or level of effort in policy implementation. Users can also change many of the underlying assumptions in the model, including projections of global population, economic growth, climate-Earth system feedbacks, and rates of technological change\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. En-ROADS integrates current climate and energy science, is calibrated to historical data and larger climate and integrated assessment models, and is tested against a wide range of climate scenarios, including Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs)\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. En-ROADS is freely available online, accessible to non-experts, and has been used by more than 294,000 people in 158 nations (\u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://www.climateinteractive.org/en-roads/\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://www.climateinteractive.org/en-roads/\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e), including more than 15,500 leaders in government, business, and civil society (\u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://mitsloan.mit.edu/centers-initiatives/sustainability-initiative/mit-climate-pathways-project#our-impact\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://mitsloan.mit.edu/centers-initiatives/sustainability-initiative/mit-climate-pathways-project#our-impact\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e), since its release in 2019.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eRecent research indicates that engaging with En-ROADS or a related model, C-ROADS, enhances participants\u0026rsquo; understanding of climate change and its solutions, their desire to learn more, and their intent to take action to combat it\u003csup\u003e20\u0026ndash;22,24,25\u003c/sup\u003e. However, many participants in prior research were students who did not hold leadership positions or have power to implement climate policies. Students may update their climate beliefs more readily than older adults\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR26\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e26\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. To affect policy decisions today, it is important to ask whether interactive simulation can inform and motivate today\u0026rsquo;s leaders.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHere we employ a sample of elected and appointed US government officials including members of Congress, mayors, diplomats, senior executives, and professionals in business and NGOs (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, Table \u003cspan refid=\"MOESM1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003eS1\u003c/span\u003e). Using a mixed-methods approach, we ask what participants learn as a result of engaging with En-ROADS during interactive workshops. We find that leaders and professionals make significant gains in their understanding of climate solutions and motivation to advocate for informed action. They develop a stronger sense of the need for rapid climate action and motivation to implement high-impact climate solutions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInterviewees\u0026rsquo; title or position, sector, country or region, and prior focus on sustainability or climate change. \u0026lsquo;Sust focus\u0026rsquo; refers to whether or not the interviewee\u0026rsquo;s professional work was focused on sustainability-related topics.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"4\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTitle/Position\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSector\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCountry or Region\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSust focus\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited Nations CCD COP\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e President\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInternational governance\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited Nations\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChief Executive Officer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMunicipal government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAustralia\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMayoral candidate\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMunicipal government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMayor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMunicipal government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMayor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMunicipal government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMayor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMunicipal government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePolice Commander, Major Crimes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMunicipal government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDiplomatic Fellow\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNational government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEuropean Union\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eForeign Service Officer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNational government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUS Representative\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNational government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUS Representative\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNational government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUS Representative\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNational government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRegional Group Spokesperson\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNGO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEuropean Union\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePolicy Fellow\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNGO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTech Coordinator\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNGO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eState Coordinator\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNGO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChief Operating Officer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, energy\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEuropean Union\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eExecutive Vice President Sustainability \u0026amp; HSSE\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, energy\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEuropean Union\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHead of Sustainability\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, energy\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEuropean Union\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVice President of Management Communication\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, energy\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEuropean Union\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMember of the Executive Board of Directors\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, finance\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEuropean Union\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePartner\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, finance\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEuropean Union\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSenior Vice President of Sustainability \u0026amp; Climate\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, finance\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEuropean Union\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHead of Responsible Investment\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, finance\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited Kingdom\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChief Operating Officer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, finance\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSenior Legal Counsel\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, finance\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSenior Manager\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, finance\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSenior Manager advisory services\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, finance\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChairman of the Supervisory Board\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, technology\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEuropean Union\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eManaging Director and Chief Digital Officer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, technology\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEuropean Union\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMarket Development Lead\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, technology\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEuropean Union\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLead Architect, DevOps, SRE \u0026amp; Sustainable Engineering\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, technology\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChief Executive Officer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, technology\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVice President of Social Impact and Sustainability\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePrivate sector, technology\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eClimate Change Coordinator\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eState government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEuropean Union\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHead, Climate Protection Unit\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eState government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEuropean Union\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDouglas County Commissioner, District 1, Vice-Chair of the Board of County Commissioners\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eState government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCounty Commissioner\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eState government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eExecutive Director, Department of Early Childhood\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eState government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eState Representative\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eState government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eClimate Policy Advisor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eState government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eYes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eState Representative\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eState government\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUnited States\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003ctfoot\u003e \u003ctr\u003e\u003ctd colspan=\"4\"\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cem\u003e1\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sup\u003eCCD COP: Convention to Combat Desertification Conference of Parties.\u003c/td\u003e\u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tfoot\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Results","content":"\u003cp\u003eSurvey-based analyses\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eQuantitative analyses of survey responses show statistically significant gains in participants\u0026rsquo; affective engagement with climate change and its potential solutions (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). They made small but statistically significant gains in their sense of the personal importance of climate change (effect size, \u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.130; \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.025) and moderate gains in their sense of empowerment to contribute to addressing it (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.286; \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001). Participants also made statistically significant gains in their ability to identify which climate solutions have high or low impact on future warming. High-impact solutions are policies and actions that cut GHG emissions substantively and in the near term, thereby enabling lower cumulative emissions and, therefore, lower warming (e.g., \u003csup\u003e12,27\u003c/sup\u003e). In contrast, low-impact solutions take time to scale or have little effect on net emissions, allowing GHG accumulation and, therefore, warming, to continue (e.g., \u003csup\u003e28\u003c/sup\u003e). These gains in participant knowledge were particularly strong for carbon pricing (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.514; \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), which has high impact in the real world\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR29\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e29\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Participants also made moderate gains in identifying cutting methane and other non-CO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e GHG emissions\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.220; \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and improving the energy efficiency of buildings\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.195; \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001) as high-impact solutions. Participants\u0026rsquo; ability to identify some widely-promoted but low-impact policies also improved (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). These changes were small but statistically significant for soil carbon sequestration\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.190; \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.001), moderate for afforestation\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.325; \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001), and large for increasing R\u0026amp;D for new zero-carbon energy sources\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR32\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e32\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.479; \u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSummary statistics for Wilcoxon signed-rank tests comparing pre- and post-En-ROADS survey responses for each outcome variable. Statistically significant \u003cem\u003ep-\u003c/em\u003evalues (\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;\u003cspan type=\"ItalicUnderline\" class=\"ItalicUnderline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u0026le;\u003c/span\u003e\u0026thinsp;0.05) and Wilcoxon effect sizes that are small (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\(\\:\\approx\\:\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 0.1), medium (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e \u003cspan class=\"InlineEquation\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"mathinline\"\u003e\\(\\:\\approx\\:\\)\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e 0.3), or large (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e \u003cspan type=\"Underline\" class=\"Underline\" name=\"Emphasis\"\u003e\u0026ge;\u003c/span\u003e 0.5) are shown in bold.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"9\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c7\" colnum=\"7\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c8\" colnum=\"8\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"char\" char=\".\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c9\" colnum=\"9\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c4\" namest=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePre\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"2\" nameend=\"c6\" namest=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePost\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDependent variable\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eN\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMean\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMean\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eW\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ep\u003c/em\u003e-value\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEffect size (\u003cem\u003er\u003c/em\u003e)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eClimate change affect:\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePersonal importance of cc\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e296\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.828\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.413\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.868\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.377\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e64\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.025\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.130\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEmpowerment to address cc\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e294\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.034\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.700\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3.201\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.659\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e727\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.286\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eClimate solutions\u003c/b\u003e:\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCarbon price\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e289\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.557\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.498\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.869\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.339\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e428\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.514\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMethane \u0026amp; non-CO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e GHGs\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e289\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.550\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.498\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.685\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.465\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1925\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.220\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEnergy efficiency: buildings\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e289\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.488\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.501\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.609\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.489\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2128\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.195\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEnergy efficiency: transport\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e289\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.443\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.498\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.381\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.486\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3552\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.086\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.101\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCarbon capture tech\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e289\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.339\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.474\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.308\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.462\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2912\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.376\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.052\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eElectrify transport\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e289\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.301\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.460\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.266\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.443\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2571\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.308\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.060\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNew zero carbon energy\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e289\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.505\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.501\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.194\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.396\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6519\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.479\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSequester soil carbon\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e289\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.173\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.379\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.097\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.296\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e799\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.190\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePlant trees\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e289\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.221\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.416\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.080\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e0.271\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c7\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1344\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c8\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"char\" char=\".\" colname=\"c9\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e0.325\u003c/b\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWe asked whether holding En-ROADS simulation sessions online led to different learning outcomes than in-person sessions. We found no statistically significant differences in pre- to post-En-ROADS gains from virtual and in-person sessions from almost all outcome variables, except for carbon capture technology (Table S2). Note that the versions of En-ROADS used in these simulations (En-ROADS versions 2.7.38, from April 2021, to 23.10.0, from October 2023) included fewer constraints on the scaling and impact of carbon capture technology than more recent releases (as of the time of writing, the current release is v. 25.6.0)\u003csup\u003e23\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eInterview-based analyses\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSemi-structured interviews enabled us to ask participants about the impact of En-ROADS and the reasons for any changes in their knowledge, affect, and intended actions around climate change. Combined deductive and inductive coding\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR33\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e33\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e yielded five major themes with a set of 28 codes. Themes were related to learning about climate change and its potential solutions (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e); the personal, emotional, and social impacts of the simulation (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e); and motivation to act spurred by the experience (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e). Below, we explain how interviewees\u0026rsquo; comments address each of our research questions (RQs; see Methods).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab3\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 3\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThemes and codes related to learning about climate change and its potential solutions from qualitative analyses of interview data. Exemplar quotes are provided for each code. Note that \u0026lsquo;cc\u0026rsquo; refers to \u0026lsquo;climate change.\u0026rsquo;\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTheme\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCode\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eExplanation of code\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eExemplar quote\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTitle/Position\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSector\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCC insights from sim\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBetter informed: policies and high-leverage action\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation increased awareness and understanding of climate change science and evidence.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBut my biggest takeaway was that things I assumed to move the needle didn't really all that much\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVP Social Impact, Sustainability\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTech\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBetter informed: scale of problem and solutions needed\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation increased awareness and understanding of climate change policies and about which actions are effective at a large scale.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI think a lot of times, especially as someone who is not deep in this, or a technical practitioner in this space, I was surprised at how many different variables actually go into thinking about the transition itself.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSenior Manager\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinance\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHigh impact of carbon pricing\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation delivered new insights about the impact of carbon pricing.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eYeah, I think the CO\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003e2\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e \u003cem\u003eprice that is the biggest, biggest one. This is the main outcome for me.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRegional Group Spokesperson\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNGO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInteractive interface impact on learning\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEn-ROADS visual features supported learning\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe visual features of En-ROADS (e.g. graphs, sea-level rise maps) enhanced their engagement, learning experience, and ability to recall aspects they learned.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSo I think that did sort of hit home to me like with the, the actual visual impact was probably the thing that made me feel the most sense of urgency as opposed to, like, the temperature number.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePolicy Fellow\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNGO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation makes cc and its solutions accessible\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInteractions with En-ROADS enhanced their ability to understand complex climate issues and policies and delineate differing problems and solutions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e[With En-ROADS] you have capability to show what the impact of the solutions can have on the economy\u0026hellip; of our countries. So \u0026hellip; [users] are able, more easily, to participate in policymaking\u0026hellip;. You know, [En-ROADS] is a great tool to have interaction between communities between the people and the leaders\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUNCCD COP President\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGov\u0026rsquo;t\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInteractive aspect of En-ROADS enhanced learning\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe ability to interact with En-ROADS enhanced their engagement, learning experience, and ability to recall what they learned.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI think actually being able to play with those dials ... really etched in my mind - [it] was really easy to understand in a way that having read a lot and heard a lot, wasn't as clear as it was with the tool.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eForeign Service Officer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGov\u0026rsquo;t\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab4\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 4\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThemes and codes related to personal, emotional and social impacts of the simulation from qualitative analyses of interview data. Exemplar quotes are provided for each code.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTheme\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCode\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eExplanation of code\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eExemplar quote\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTitle/Position\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSector\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePersonal and emotional impact of simulation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIncreased confidence about taking action\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation cemented participant's knowledge and increased their sense of confidence in their ability to take meaningful action.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBefore I had this conflicting feeling like A) climate is the only thing that actually matters for like, all of our future, and B) I should not invest in that space, because I lack the right knowledge. And I feel very much different about that now... I feel like I have meaningfully more information and knowledge.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eChief Executive Officer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTech\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIncreased urgency\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation increased participant's sense of urgency about the need to take climate action.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI think even though I felt before that this was urgent, it also made me feel \u0026hellip; where the urgency might be, and there's this tool that can tell people \u0026hellip; we need to do this right now.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eForeign Service Officer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGov\u0026rsquo;t\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation spurs motivation and hope\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation made participants feel more motivated to address climate change and more hopeful about climate solutions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI was excited by it, because I imagined leaders who are using that as a tool to be able to prioritize and identify where resources should be put given direct impact on the climate, so I mean, that's good.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eForeign Service Officer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGov\u0026rsquo;t\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation spurs sense of being overwhelmed, disheartened\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation made participants feel overwhelmed about the scale of climate action needed and disheartened about the prospects of climate action at scale.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe one takeaway is, if we pull all the levers, you know, we will be in better shape, but not all the way to what we might expect as a sort of stable point\u0026hellip;. This is an effort of throwing the brakes on and \u0026hellip;what the model suggests is that if you fully apply the brakes, you might not be able to stop the vehicle. And that's a pretty sobering reality.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMayor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGov\u0026rsquo;t\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFeeling both motivated/ hopeful and overwhelmed/ disheartened\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation spurred both hope and a sense of being overwhelmed by the scale of action needed. Participant is holding this dissonance.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe simulation really, it provoked a lot of shock. It's not that I don't feel like there aren't opportunities to change. But just stepping back and looking at that big, big picture was again, for me, a holy crap moment.... But you know, I don't see how it's not going to have to happen\u0026hellip;.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMayor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGov\u0026rsquo;t\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation causes personal cc connection and growth\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInteractions with En-ROADS assisted their ability to relate to climate issues and policies at a more personal level.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIt was an emotional reaction as a result. I mean, they weren't crying on the call, but they did say that it really made them think, Oh my God, what am I doing to my children?\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eHead, Responsible Investment\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinance\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTransformative impact on role of cc in worldview\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation had a transformative impact by changing how climate change is integrated into their worldview, personal mission, and/or career goals.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIt gave me a better command of the material and the rationale for policy change. My job is to\u0026hellip; lead people, but inherent in leading is persuasion. \u0026hellip; it strengthened my ability to persuade.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMayor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGov\u0026rsquo;t\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eImpact of social interactions during sim\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSocial interactions in simulation key to learning and action\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eInteractions with other people during the simulation played a key role in how participant learned and their sense of agency to take action afterwards.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSo that's a very important factor, to give a thought of group feeling and fighting for going down and to, to push us to work together and to be creative.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRegional Group Spokesperson\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNGO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation spurs sense of collective efficacy\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eExperiencing the simulation with others gave participant a sense of collective efficacy that they think is important for collective action in the real world.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI think the governor was engaged, our team was engaged for folks who don't live and breathe this, I think it's a really good demonstration of the breadth of, you know, what's required, and also the impacts of an action.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePolicy Advisor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGov\u0026rsquo;t\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFacilitators impact simulation experience and outcomes\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipant felt that the facilitator was a trusted expert whose abilities contributed to their learning and positive simulation outcomes.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHe rocks and he has the experience and then he can do more, an hour than some of our ambassadors are able to do in two or three.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eState Coordinator\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNGO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab5\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 5\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCodes related to the theme of climate action spurred by the simulation from qualitative analyses of interview data. Exemplar quotes are provided for each code.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"6\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c4\" colnum=\"4\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c5\" colnum=\"5\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c6\" colnum=\"6\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTheme\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCode\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eExplanation of code\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eExemplar quote\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTitle/Position\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSector\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\" morerows=\"2\" rowspan=\"3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eClimate action spurred by simulation\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIntent to act at personal level\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBecause of the simulation, participant intends to reduce their personal carbon footprint and/or advocate that others in their social networks take climate action.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eI think it's already starting to influence the way we think about things. For example, when I'm buying a car, should I go for electric?\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSustainable Engineering\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTech\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eIntent to act at organizational level\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIntent to advocate for large-scale policies\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\" morerows=\"1\" rowspan=\"2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eBecause of the simulation, participant intends to foster climate action by their organization.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBecause of the simulation, participant intends to advocate for climate solutions at the regional, national, or international level.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eBut with this information from En-ROADS. So I thought, okay, now we have to really push the electric cars in cars in the company.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eManaging Director, Chief Digital Officer\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTech\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThere's an opportunity to take that model out and get in front of governments, state governments, local governments around the world.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCEO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGov\u0026rsquo;t\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRecommending En-ROADS to others\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipant is recommending that other groups experience En-ROADS simulations, including those in finance, energy, manufacturing, local to international governments, and the US Congress\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMy initial thought is to just like, send it to everyone I know who's thinking about these things.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCEO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTech\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eActions taken at personal level\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation spurred participants to reduce their own carbon footprint and/or advocate that others in their social networks take climate action.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eIt'll be part of my conscious now\u0026hellip;. as an example, this is miniscule, but last night, it was borderline whether the air conditioner need to be on or not. So, \u0026hellip; frankly, because of just having that session, I'm like we can do without it\u0026hellip;. So just small thoughts like that, that wouldn't have existed\u0026hellip;.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePolice Commander\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGov\u0026rsquo;t\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eActions taken at organizational level\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation spurred participants to take climate action at the level of their company, non-profit, network of policymakers, etc.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;I think we will be more ambitious.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eMayor of a northeastern US city\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eGov\u0026rsquo;t\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eEncouraging investment in RE/divestment from ff\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation spurred participant to work on increasing investment in renewable energy technologies and divestment from fossil fuels.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eWe did a little bit of a walkthrough with the family about \u0026hellip; how we've ramped down on traditional energy and how we've scaled up on sustainables and showing them examples of companies that they have now, their capital has helped bring to life. So that was another way for them to connect the concepts to action.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eCOO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFinance\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAdvocating for larger scale policies\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSimulation spurred participants to advocate for pro-climate policies at the organizational, regional, or national level.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAnd if we just focus on ourselves, and we stay quiet, and don't use our corporate voice, we're going to miss a huge opportunity\u0026hellip;. I just explained,\u0026hellip; the whole problem is we have to move systems, we can't move like one thing at a time, \u0026hellip; and the only way you move systems is for all of us to not just do the work, but to speak it so that you know, it transforms \u0026hellip; what is normalized \u0026hellip; and that for that you need policy and advocacy. And we need to be louder, we need to be using our voice.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eVP Social Impact, Sustainability\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eTech\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eActively sharing En-ROADS to influence decision-making\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eParticipant is actively sharing En-ROADS with others in their organization or social network with the intent of motivating informed climate action.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c4\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eSo [we] were approached, for instance, and the Secretary of State on regional and also on the national level from the Green Party. And we asked for a talk with him how to bring it to politics, how to make it more popular [with politicians], which need to have En-ROADS on their computers ...\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c5\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSpokes-person\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c6\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNGO\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e\u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eRQ1. How does engagement with En-ROADS compare to other ways of learning about climate change and its solutions?\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMost interviewees said the simulation improved their understanding of the scale and urgency of the climate crisis and high-impact policies to address it (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, Extended Data Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Almost all thought that the interactive nature of En-ROADS simulations enhanced learning and made its complex concepts more accessible, e.g.,\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;If you get more interaction, you can keep and take more away\u0026hellip;. Doing something and really playing with the levers it's much more effective than only reading a text, listening to a podcast, or watching a video.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e - Vice President of Management Communication for an energy utility company.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eRQ2. Does engagement with En-ROADS affect participants\u0026rsquo; sense of urgency about climate change and its solutions?\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe simulation experience aroused strong and varied emotions among interviewees (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). Most described an increased sense of urgency about climate change, greater motivation to act, and greater hope about climate solutions. These positive emotions were sometimes accompanied by negative emotions, with about a third of the interviewees saying they felt both more hopeful and more overwhelmed or disheartened (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). En-ROADS simulations sometimes triggered strong emotional responses, as shown by these quotes from participants:\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Actually I think quite a lot of people were like, oh my God,\u0026hellip; it\u0026rsquo;s a nightmare. We (sic) got to do this. That was the kind of reaction\u0026hellip; that came out of quite a lot of people. But from my perspective, that's actually quite good because it makes them think \u0026hellip; there's a reason there's urgency here.\u0026rdquo; -\u003c/em\u003e Head of Responsible Investment of a major investment firm.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;I feel scared\u0026hellip; I can't even stop thinking about it. What if this happened? How we could (sic) manage this planet? Literally, in a couple of days, four days \u0026hellip; I was not me\u0026hellip;. I was not myself\u0026hellip;. I wasn't the same person now\u0026hellip;.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u0026ndash; Development Lead for a major technology company.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eRQ3. Do social interactions during engagement with En-ROADS play a role in participants\u0026rsquo; sense of collective efficacy and willingness to take collective action in the real world?\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eInterviews also highlighted the importance of social interactions during the simulation, which a quarter of interviewees described as influencing what they learned and how they intended to act on climate (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e). Social interactions gave many interviewees a sense of collective efficacy, which contributed to their motivation to share En-ROADS to influence decision-making (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e), e.g.,\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Certainly, as we went through, I think there was a collective sense that emerged early on and let's find things that \u0026hellip; grow the economy and reduce CO\u003c/em\u003e \u003csub\u003e \u003cem\u003e2\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/sub\u003e \u003cem\u003eemissions.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u0026ndash; US Congressperson.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;I have persuaded my colleagues in the boards of [redacted] to make a common session, where we all together \u0026hellip; apply \u0026hellip; En-ROADS and \u0026hellip; answer our questions about what is the best strategy \u0026hellip;. I think we need \u0026hellip; the security and also the safety that everybody knows about the problem, everybody knows about the mechanisms and the measures that you can have in order to tackle the problem.\u0026rdquo; \u0026ndash;\u003c/em\u003e Chief Operating Officer of an electric utility.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eRQ4. Does engagement with En-ROADS affect what participants plan or do to address to climate change in the real world?\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMost participants described recent or planned climate actions that they attributed to engaging with En-ROADS (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e). These ranged from cutting their own carbon emissions to advocating for climate action in their personal networks, sharing En-ROADS with others, or advocating for pro-climate decisions in their organizations or by governments, for example:\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;It helped us to see that \u0026hellip; policy is such a big needle mover\u0026hellip; We didn't even have a policy team at my company when we did this exercise and now we do. And we\u0026rsquo;ve made it a huge part of that team as they are getting up and running to say, \u0026lsquo;we should be active on climate policy as much as we can.\u0026rsquo;\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u0026ndash; Vice President of Social Impact and Sustainability for a technology firm.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;...it's being used as that real tool to really get people mobilized and motivated and thinking about it and understanding the challenge and taking this serious.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e - Head of Responsible Investment for a major bank.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec3\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eRQ5. How do outcomes differ for participants who already have a background in sustainability?\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eInterviewees with a prior focus on climate change and sustainability described making gains in their knowledge about climate change, its solutions, and their personal connection to the issue from En-ROADS simulations (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Many said they were better informed about the scale and urgency of the problem and high-impact actions to address it. Almost half said it increased their confidence in their knowledge about climate solutions and ability to act. The results suggest that even individuals who are actively and professionally engaged with sustainability still found value in the simulation experience.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe impact of En-ROADS on sustainability-focused interviewees also differed from other interviewees in some ways. While about half of sustainability-focused interviewees said the simulation made them feel motivated and hopeful, they were less likely to feel hopeful than other interviewees (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Among sustainability-focused interviewees who gained hope and motivation, a greater proportion also described feeling overwhelmed (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e), e.g.:\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Before I felt emboldened by seeing what did work, [but] I felt \u0026hellip;really frustrated and shocked at what didn't work.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e - Vice President of Social Impact and Sustainability for a technology firm.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;I guess it's always a tradeoff between\u0026hellip; urgency and frustration isn't (sic) the right word, but just being \u0026hellip; bogged down [with] the enormity of the task.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u0026ndash; Policy Fellow at a sustainability-focused NGO.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHowever, sustainability-focused interviewees were more likely to take action at an organizational, collective, level (vs. individual action), and found that the simulation generated a sense of collective efficacy (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e), e.g.,\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Now the rubber meets the road, because now we have to actually do things like set an internal price on carbon and create a carbon fund\u0026hellip;.\u0026rdquo; \u0026ndash;\u003c/em\u003e Vice President of Social Impact, Sustainability\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGovernment officials are a key audience in our study because of their direct agency over climate and energy policy. We find that most became better informed about the scale of the problem and high-impact actions to address it. They gained confidence about taking action and their sense of urgency grew (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). A far greater percentage of government vs. private sector interviewees said the experience enhanced their intent and ability to advocate for policy change (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e), e.g.,\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;And I truly do believe that it has given me \u0026hellip; deliberate, intentional change and communication with those people around me. And if the conversations can be had, then action can ensue.\u0026rdquo; \u0026ndash;\u003c/em\u003e Mayor of a city in the western US.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;I really think that the more we can work [with] industry [for] collaboration legislatively\u0026hellip; I think it\u0026rsquo;s a really important thing to do.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e \u0026ndash; US Congressperson.\u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eGovernment officials described recommending En-ROADS to others and having a sense that it affected their personal connection to climate change at rates similar to other groups (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Discussion","content":"\u003cp\u003eOur mixed quantitative and qualitative analyses show that interactive engagement with the En-ROADS climate policy simulator has a significant impact on how people in positions of leadership think, feel, and intend to act on climate. Interaction with En-ROADS increased participants’ insights into climate solutions, aroused their emotional engagement with climate change, and motivated many to take personal climate action or advocate for action by their organizations or governments. Unlike most prior research on the efficacy of climate simulations (e.g., \u003csup\u003e20,21,34,35\u003c/sup\u003e), our sample includes people who influence government policies, major investment portfolios, the development of new technologies, and the strategies of energy companies. Interviewees attributed their learning outcomes to the interactive nature of the En-ROADS simulations (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e, Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e), with almost all reporting that it made this complex issue more accessible and enhanced learning. Our results suggest that engaging leaders and their teams with En-ROADS is a useful approach to advance climate decision-making at the organizational and policy levels.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBoth \u003cem\u003eEn-ROADS Climate Workshops\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eClimate Action Simulations\u003c/em\u003e (referred to together herein as “interactive En-ROADS simulations”) can be rich social experiences. Participants work together to decide which climate solutions to explore, fostering deliberation and collaboration as they explain their ideas and try to convince others about their preferred solutions\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. These social experiences likely play an important role in the impact of En-ROADS simulations. Social interactions give rise to emotions\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, the intensity of which are thought to drive climate change risk perception, engagement, and intent to act\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Both survey- and interview-based analyses show that interactive En-ROADS simulations aroused emotions, which, in turn, influenced participants’ motivation to act. Survey respondents made statistically significant pre- to post-En-ROADS gains in their feelings of personal importance of climate change and empowerment to contribute to addressing it (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). Simulations held in virtual and in-person formats had similar outcomes (Table S2), indicating that the growing reliance on virtual settings for communication and education does not pose a barrier to scaling interactive En-ROADS simulations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMany interviewees described experiencing a range of emotions, including an increased sense of urgency, feeling overwhelmed or disheartened, and feeling motivated or hopeful (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Many referred to their heightened sense of urgency as motivation to act (Tables\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e–\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e), perhaps to mitigate negative feelings, e.g.,\u003c/p\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"BlockQuote\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e“…even though I felt before that this was urgent, it also made me feel … where the urgency might be, and there's this tool that can tell people … we need to do this right now.”\u003c/em\u003e – Foreign Service Officer.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e“… a lot of what we're trying to do ... is win hearts and minds internally. And so as a result, we ended up [doing] a number of different workshops for quite big groups…. [En-ROADS is] being used as that real tool to … really get people mobilized and motivated….” – Head of Responsible Investments for a major investment firm.\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBoth anticipating and taking action can mitigate the negative emotional responses to climate change by generating positive emotions, such as a sense of agency and hope\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR36\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e36\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In En-ROADS simulations, participants who are confronted by the scale and urgency of the climate challenge may be more willing to engage with that sense of urgency because they are also offered agency and feedback about the impact of their simulated actions. The workshops provide a means to translate initial distress into proactive engagement. Thus, negative and positive emotions may work together to spur action.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWhile it is beyond the scope of the current research to statistically analyze a comprehensive model of how En-ROADS simulations affect learning, affective engagement, and intent to take action, its findings are consistent with constructivist learning about complex systems\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, social cognitive theory\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, and dual-process models of decision-making\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. En-ROADS simulations provide a feedback-rich, social learning environment that offers a means for participants to construct new mental models about the complex climate and energy systems. Participants work together to decide on and simulate climate solutions in En-ROADS, which can foster a belief that they can take effective action and, thereby enhances a sense of self- and collective efficacy. This sense of efficacy underpins social cognitive theory\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e40\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Their emotional responses engage automatic and intuitive processing (System 1), while interacting with En-ROADS supports analytic reasoning (System 2)\u003csup\u003e41\u003c/sup\u003e. These two forms of processing can work together to drive motivation to take informed action, especially when emotional responses are combined with actionable insights and a sense of agency\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBoth the quantitative and qualitative results suggest that En-ROADS is an effective tool to engage people who have a prior focus on sustainability (Tables\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e–\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e, Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). These interviewees were more likely than their counterparts to describe acting at the organizational level, rather than only at the personal level (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Such actions include steering investment decisions away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy, setting a regional shadow price for GHG emissions, an organization-internal, or country-wide price on carbon emissions, and transitioning their company’s vehicle fleet to electric vehicles (see exemplar quotes above in Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e). Interviewees with a sustainability focus were also more likely than their counterparts to describe a sense of collective efficacy from their simulation experiences (Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e), suggesting that they recognize the importance of collective action on climate. Many described using En-ROADS to advocate for pro-climate decisions or policies (Extended Data Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Unlike audiences who first need to understand the reality and scale of climate change, sustainability-focused professionals and leaders are already familiar with the climate crisis and hold positions in which they are charged with addressing it\u003csup\u003e42\u003c/sup\u003e. They recognized that En-ROADS gave them new insights and a tool that they are well-positioned to deploy.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLimitations and future work\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eLimitations of this study include: the limited time leaders and professionals have available to participate in workshops or to complete surveys or interviews; self-selection of participants in both En-ROADS simulations and survey or interview completion; and a sample drawn mostly from the US and exclusively from the Global North. Participation in the simulation, pre- and post-surveys, and interviews was voluntary. Participants may be more likely to have a prior interest in climate issues than their counterparts who chose not to participate. We addressed the possibility of non-response bias by comparing the pre-survey responses of participants who provided matched surveys to those who only provided pre-surveys. We found no statistically significant differences (see Methods; Extended Data Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e), despite having a sample size that was sufficient to detect small effect sizes (Cohen’s \u003cem\u003ed\u003c/em\u003e \u0026gt; 0.2) with a power of 0.8, given observed standard deviations in our data, indicating no evidence for non-response bias. Semi-structured interviews may also introduce biases, as participants may provide socially desirable responses or overemphasize the simulation’s influence due to recall bias or be influenced by the level of mutual trust and rapport between interviewee and interviewer\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR43\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e43\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, which we did not measure.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFuture research could include a sample from more diverse industries, political ideologies, countries, and climate engagement levels. It could also incorporate measures of simulation outcomes that do not rely on participants’ responses, such as analysis of participants’ public sphere communications before and after En-ROADS workshops. Lastly, future research could include analysis of causal relationships between gains in knowledge, affect, and intent to act that are fostered by En-ROADS.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eImplications\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOur mixed methods approach shows that interactive simulation with En-ROADS has potential to motivate leaders in government, business, and NGOs to take personal climate action and to advocate for their organizations or governments to act. The simulation workshop is an active, social learning experience that often arouses strong emotions and can foster a commitment to learning and doing more. Leaders and professionals experienced a greater sense of urgency and intent to take climate action. They overcame widespread misconceptions about and preference for climate solutions that have little impact on slowing down expected warming this century, such as afforestation\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR10\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e10\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Instead, they were more likely to favor high-impact solutions that cut emissions substantively in the near-term, like pricing carbon\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e and improving energy efficiency in buildings\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. These improvements in their ability to distinguish high- vs. low-impact climate solutions can help focus their efforts on actions that can make a difference in time. While it may not be possible to attribute formal policy changes directly to En-ROADS simulations, many participants expressed their intent to change organization-internal communication, broader advocacy, organizational strategies, or municipal policies because of their participation. These changes are consistent with early stages of agenda-setting and organizational learning\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR44\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e44\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e and indicate that simulation-based interventions may influence long-term decision processes. En-ROADS simulations are already used to train leaders in graduate and professional education in many universities and companies\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR45\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e45\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Expanding the use of En-ROADS and other interactive simulations in training sessions, corporate strategic planning, and public forums could help bridge the gap between climate pledges and implementation.\u003c/p\u003e "},{"header":"Methods","content":"\u003cp\u003eWe used a mixed methods approach\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR46\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e46\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, combining quantitative analysis of pre-/post-simulation survey responses with qualitative analysis of semi-structured interview transcripts. This approach enabled us to not only assess quantitatively the extent to which engaging with En-ROADS is associated with particular outcomes, but also how and why these outcomes occur.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOur approach was informed by theories from social psychology, learning science, and climate change communication. Constructivist learning theory and experiential education models support the use of interactive simulations to deliver gains in knowledge about complex climate solutions because simulations provide learner-centered and feedback-rich learning environments\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Emotional engagement with climate change, such as sense of urgency or hope about the issue, is linked to climate risk perception and action\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Self-efficacy, measured here as reported sense of empowerment, is considered by social cognitive theory to be a key driver of motivation and behavior change\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Lastly, the social interactions during En-ROADS workshops include deliberation and collaborative decision-making, which should support participants’ sense of collective efficacy, a driver of pro-social behavior and norm-based action\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e40\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSurvey-based study\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSample and data collection\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA pre- and post-simulation survey was administered to 949 participants in 37 En-ROADS simulation sessions (Supplementary Table\u0026nbsp;1). Thirty-four sessions were interactive \u003cem\u003eEn-ROADS Climate Workshops\u003c/em\u003e. These workshops are interactive experiences, guided by a facilitator, in which participants use En-ROADS to explore their own ideas about actions to limit global warming. These can be one-on-ones or group experiences of any size up to multiple hundred people\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR47\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e47\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In addition to these workshops, three other sessions were \u003cem\u003eClimate Action Simulations\u003c/em\u003e\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. These are interactive role-plays premised on a fictitious climate summit organized by the United Nations Secretary-General to urgently address climate change. Participants take the roles of leaders from different nations, industries, and civil society groups and negotiate agreements to limit emissions and warming. In both the workshops and role-plays participants seek to develop a set of actions and policies that limit expected warming to \u0026ldquo;well below 2\u0026deg; C\u0026rdquo; as specified in the Paris Agreement\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e48\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Sessions last between one and three hours.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eBoth formats, workshops and role-play simulations, begin with a brief introduction to En-ROADS, its purpose and design principles, underlying structure and assumptions, and user interface. Facilitators often provide an overview of how the simulator is used to support other decision-makers in the same sector as participants. Facilitators briefly introduce the international climate goal\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR48\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e48\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e and explain to participants that their charge is to agree on a set of actions and policies that are expected to meet this goal. Participants make their own decisions about which climate solutions to implement and work to convince others to agree. They advocate for their favored solution, deliberating with other participants about what should be implemented and why. The facilitator enters consensus decisions into En-ROADS, which provides immediate feedback about many of the expected consequences of their decisions, including global mean temperature rise; climate change impacts such as flooding from sea level rise in any user-specified coastal location, additional deaths from extreme heat, expected decline of crop yields, economic damage, and more; changes in the energy system, including energy sources, costs, and associated emissions; and changes in land use and forestry\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR23\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e23\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Participants engage in an iterative process of deliberating about which climate solutions to implement, working together and with moderation by a facilitator, to understand the impacts of those solutions in the En-ROADS simulator, and returning to deliberations to decide what to do next. Workshops and Climate Action Simulations end with a debrief that aims to cement participants\u0026rsquo; insights about the climate and energy systems and their implications for real-world action. Facilitators ask participants for their feelings about being part of the developed scenario and what to do next, professionally and/or privately. Because both the \u003cem\u003eEn-ROADS Climate Workshop\u003c/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eEn-ROADS Climate Action Simulation\u003c/em\u003e have the same learning goals, experiential learning approach, and information provided (via an introductory presentation and the En-ROADS model), we refer to both formats broadly as \u0026ldquo;En-ROADS simulations.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eOur sample includes leaders from companies in the technology, energy, and finance industries; government officials and public servants, including municipal and state government officials, diplomats, and members of the European Commission; and leaders from non-profits focused on climate and energy policy (Supplementary Information, Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). Leaders and professionals in our sample had limited time for both the simulation and surveys. We therefore kept the survey short and we used the same survey pre- and post-En-ROADS engagement (Supplementary Information, Survey questions). This approach enabled us to include high-level business leaders and government officials and to collect data from a larger sample. Conversely, it precluded research questions about the effects of participants\u0026rsquo; sociodemographic traits or sociopolitical values on simulation learning outcomes. However, prior research that relied primarily on students drawn from diverse educational settings (i.e., including high schools, undergraduate and graduate programs, executive MBA programs, and informal educational settings)\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan additionalcitationids=\"CR21\" citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e showed that interactive simulations with En-ROADS or the related C-ROADS\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR49\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e49\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e model were effective across participants with diverse ages, genders and identities, and sociopolitical values.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSurvey questions were designed to elicit whether participants consider climate change to be personally important, feel empowered to take action to combat it, and are able to identify high-impact climate policies and actions. Four-point Likert scales were used because they enabled us to use some of the same survey questions as in prior research\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR20\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e20\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR22\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e22\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, thereby opening the potential for future work comparing results across multiple studies. Similarly, some of the questions were adapted from prior research by the Yale Program for Climate Change Communication (e.g., \u003csup\u003e16\u003c/sup\u003e), which relies on four-point Likert scales. While we broader scales could offer more nuanced measurements, four-point scales balance nuanced measurement with ease of response, opportunities to compare to prior survey instrument results, reliability, and descriptive statistics (e.g., \u003csup\u003e50\u003c/sup\u003e).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWe refer to \u0026lsquo;high-impact\u0026rsquo; policies and actions as those that can cut emissions rapidly and substantively in the near term, as shown in energy transition research. They include policies that: put a price on carbon, which is associated with rapid emissions cuts in power and industry sectors\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR12\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e12\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e; improve the energy efficiency of buildings, such as robust building codes and financial incentives for energy-saving retrofits\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR30\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e30\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e; and cutting emissions of methane and other non-CO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e greenhouse gases with high global warming potentials\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR27\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e27\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. In contrast, policies and actions with low impact do little to cut emissions in the near term, take time to scale, or are constrained by cost or other factors. For example, while afforestation may have some long-term climate change mitigation potential, it takes decades for newly planted trees to grow and sequester carbon and that growth is uncertain and vulnerable to outbreaks of pests or disease, fires, and human development\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR28\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e28\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Technological carbon removal is estimated to only sequester about 0.005% of current annual emissions and, even if rapidly scaled, is only likely to sequester less than 1% of annual emissions in 2030\u003csup\u003e51\u003c/sup\u003e. Similarly, sequestering carbon in soils is not permanent and is unlikely to reach its projected potential due to physical limits and social barriers\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR31\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e31\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. New technologies for supplying zero-carbon electricity such as nuclear fusion are not expected to contribute significantly to the energy transition until after 2050\u003csup\u003e32\u003c/sup\u003e. The impact of all of these policies are easily explored in En-ROADS. Our survey asks respondents to identify three policies that are \u0026ldquo;most effective\u0026rdquo; among a list of policies that include both higher impact policies (i.e., \u0026ldquo;put a price on carbon,\u0026rdquo; \u0026ldquo;cut emissions of methane and other non-CO\u003csub\u003e2\u003c/sub\u003e gases,\u0026rdquo; and \u0026ldquo;improve energy efficiency of buildings\u0026rdquo;) and lower impact policies (i.e., \u0026ldquo;plant trees,\u0026rdquo; \u0026ldquo;sequester carbon in soils,\u0026rdquo; \u0026ldquo;carbon capture technology,\u0026rdquo; \u0026ldquo;R\u0026amp;D for a new zero-carbon energy supply\u0026rdquo;).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eSurvey completion was voluntary. Participants were either sent a link to the pre-survey within a week prior to the simulation session or were asked to complete the pre-survey at the start of the session. The post-survey was administered immediately after or within about a week of the simulation session. Surveys included a question that asked participants for their written consent to participate after a brief explanation of the purpose of the associated research, the fact that individual survey responses would be kept confidential, and the voluntary nature of participating (Supplementary Information, Consent to participate). They also included a question asking participants to provide their name, which was used to match pre- and post-survey responses. Survey responses were de-identified after matching. Survey instruments and administration, including informed consent procedures, were approved by the UMass Lowell Institutional Review Board (Protocol 21-024-ROO-EXM) and were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki (Clinical trial number: not applicable). The dataset\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR52\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e52\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e from this research is freely available at: \u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.30795845\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"10.6084/m9.figshare.30795845\" targettype=\"DOI\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eQuantitative analysis of survey responses\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe included respondents in pre- to post-En-ROADS analyses if they provided matched pre- and post-surveys (about 32% of all participants). Given that survey completion was voluntary, it is possible that participants who felt more strongly about the topic, whether positively or negatively, were more likely to respond than others. We tested for potential response bias by using Mann-Whitney U tests to compare the pre-survey responses from participants who only provided pre-surveys (\u003cem\u003eN\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003e1\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;503 to 507, depending on the survey question) to those who provided matched pre- and post-surveys (\u003cem\u003eN\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003e2\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;289 to 292, Extended Data Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). We estimated the power of these analyses using the \u0026lsquo;pwr\u0026rsquo; package\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR53\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e53\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e in R, with \u003cem\u003eN\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003e1\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;503, \u003cem\u003eN\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003e\u003cem\u003e2\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/sub\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;289, a\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.05, and a Cohen\u0026rsquo;s \u003cem\u003ed\u003c/em\u003e effect size of 0.2. The resulting estimate was 0.8, which is generally considered to be sufficient power to avoid Type II errors\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR54\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e54\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, or to incorrectly accept the null hypothesis that there are no differences between pre-survey responses with or without matched post-surveys.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs participants learn about the consequences of climate change and its potential solutions in En-ROADS simulations\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR21\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e21\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR25\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e25\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e, we hypothesized that both their sense of personal connection or importance of climate change and their sense of empowerment to address it would increase. The survey question about \u0026ldquo;personal importance\u0026rdquo; asked \u0026ldquo;how important is the issue of climate change to you personally?\u0026rdquo;, which participants responded to on a four-point Likert scale (Very important, Somewhat important, Not very important, Not at all important). A four-point ordinal scale was used to code these responses, with a value of four corresponding to \u0026ldquo;Very important\u0026rdquo; and one corresponding to \u0026ldquo;Not at all important\u0026rdquo;. The question about \u0026ldquo;empowerment\u0026rdquo; asked \u0026ldquo;How do you feel about being able to contribute personally to address the issue of climate change?\u0026rdquo;, also provided responses on a four-point Likert scale (Very empowered, Somewhat empowered, Not very empowered, Not at all empowered), coded as a four-point ordinal variable. We coded outcome variables for participants\u0026rsquo; ability to identify high-impact solutions as binary responses with each solution identified as either high-impact or not high-impact.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eWe used Wilcoxon signed-rank tests to compare paired pre- and post-survey responses for each outcome variable (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e). The power for these analyses was again estimated using the \u0026ldquo;pwr\u0026rdquo; (\u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://github.com/heliosdrm/pwr\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://github.com/heliosdrm/pwr\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e) package in R with \u003cem\u003eN\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;289, a\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.05, and a Cohen\u0026rsquo;s \u003cem\u003ed\u003c/em\u003e effect size of 0.2, with a resulting estimate of 0.9.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eInterview-based study\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eSample and data collection\u003c/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe recruited interviewees who were in leadership positions from the En-ROADS sessions listed above (Supplementary Table\u0026nbsp;1), as well as from interactive sessions with similar groups or with individual leaders (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e; \u003cem\u003eN\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;42). Because we are especially interested in the impact of En-ROADS simulations on policymakers, our sample includes a disproportionate (\u003cem\u003eN\u0026thinsp;=\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;20) number of government officials. It also includes leaders from the private sector (\u003cem\u003eN\u0026thinsp;=\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;18), including companies in energy (\u003cem\u003eN\u0026thinsp;=\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;4), technology (\u003cem\u003eN\u0026thinsp;=\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;6), and finance (\u003cem\u003eN\u0026thinsp;=\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;8). Lastly, we include several leaders from NGOs focused on climate and energy issues (\u003cem\u003eN\u0026thinsp;=\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;4). We used information about participants\u0026rsquo; positions, background, and education as well as data they shared in interviews to assess whether they were already engaged with sustainability and climate change prior to En-ROADS simulations (Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e). We consider participants to be \u0026ldquo;working in sustainability\u0026rdquo; if their job description includes reporting on and managing sustainability initiatives or promoting environmental and/or climate change issues in their organizations\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR55\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e55\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. Participation was voluntary and we obtained participants\u0026rsquo; consent through written communication via email and/or verbal communication (as approved by the UMass Lowell Institutional Review Board, Protocol 21-024-ROO-EXM). Interviews were semi-structured, using questions designed by the research team but allowing the interviewer and interviewee to explore new questions or topics that arose during the interview (see Supplement, Semi-structured interview questions). Interview questions were designed to elicit interviewees\u0026rsquo; recollection of the En-ROADS simulation, any insights that surprised them, if and how the simulation changed the way they think or feel about climate change and its solutions, and if and how it affected their own plans to act on climate. We also asked for interviewees\u0026rsquo; feedback about En-ROADS, the simulation experience, and their recommendations regarding how it might be used in the future.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e Interviews were approximately 30 minutes and held on Zoom or Microsoft Teams from three to twelve months after the interviewee participated in an En-ROADS session. While all interviewees spoke English and agreed to be interviewed in English, we provided English-German interpretation for a few words or phrases for two native German speakers who were not fully fluent in English. Audio and video were recorded, with subsequent transcription using Otter.ai (\u003cspan class=\"ExternalRef\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"RefSource\"\u003ehttps://otter.ai/\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan address=\"https://otter.ai/\" targettype=\"URL\" class=\"RefTarget\"\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e) (\u003cem\u003eN\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;37) or Zoom transcripts (\u003cem\u003eN\u0026thinsp;=\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;5) and manual adjustment to account for accuracy of the automatic translations.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cdiv id=\"Sec8\" class=\"Section2\"\u003e \u003ch2\u003eQualitative analysis of interview data: coding themes\u003c/h2\u003e \u003cp\u003eWe iteratively developed a set of coding themes, guided by \u003cem\u003ea priori\u003c/em\u003e research questions and themes that emerged from the interview transcripts themselves. Research questions included the following and refer to \u0026ldquo;engagement with En-ROADS\u0026rdquo; as interactive workshops or simulations with other participants, rather than exploring the model individually.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eRQ1. How do interactive En-ROADS simulations compare to other ways of learning about climate change and its solutions?\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eRQ2. Does engagement with En-ROADS affect participants\u0026rsquo; sense of urgency about climate change and its solutions? If so, how and why?\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e RQ3.Do social interactions during engagement with En-ROADS play a role in participants\u0026rsquo; sense of collective efficacy and willingness to take collective action in the real world? If so, how and why?\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eRQ4. Does engagement with En-ROADS affect what participants plan or do to address to climate change in the real world? If so, how and why?\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eRQ5. How do outcomes differ for participants who already have a background in sustainability, if at all?\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThese research questions link back to the theoretical underpinnings of our study. RQ1 draws on constructivist learning theory and experiential education, which posit that interactive, feedback-rich environments support deeper understanding of complex systems and climate change in particular\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR38\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e38\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. RQ2 is rooted in affective science and the role of emotional responses in climate risk perception and motivation to act\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR17\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e17\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR37\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e37\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. RQ3 is underpinned by social cognitive theory and literature on collective action and social norms\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR19\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e19\u003c/span\u003e,\u003cspan citationid=\"CR40\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e40\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. RQ4 aligns with self-efficacy theory and how beliefs about one\u0026rsquo;s ability to act predict behavior change\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR39\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e39\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e. RQ5 examining how outcomes vary for those already working in sustainability, integrates these frameworks by considering how prior identity and domain-specific knowledge shape learning, emotion, and action.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eTwo researchers (authors RLC and LC) first worked independently to develop themes and codes within those themes from interview data (with each coder using at least 32 interviews). This initial independent effort led to eight themes and 48 codes identified by RLC and seven themes and 53 codes identified by LC. The researchers then worked together to develop a shared set of theme and code definitions, consolidating to avoid redundancies and ensure that each theme and code was clearly defined. These themes and codes were reviewed and refined by a third researcher (author JRV). The resulting codes included five themes that contained 25 codes (Tables\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e\u0026ndash;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e; Figure \u003cspan refid=\"MOESM1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003eS1\u003c/span\u003e). Authors RLC and LC then used the codes independently to analyze the full set of 42 interviews using Nvivo software\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR56\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e56\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e to determine the number of interviewees who made a statement associated with each code. Cohen\u0026rsquo;s Kappa coefficients for inter-coder agreement (ICA) were calculated for each category and for overall agreement across the analysis (\u003cem\u003eK\u003c/em\u003e\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.86, Extended Data Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e)\u003csup\u003e\u003cspan citationid=\"CR57\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e57\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/sup\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor contributions\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJ.N.R.-V., K.R., and R.L.C. conceptualized and planned this study. B.P., J.D.S., A.P.J., and J.N.R.-V. secured funding to conduct the work. En-ROADS workshops were facilitated by J.D.S., A.P.J., F.K., K.N., and B. P.. Data analyses and visualizations were conducted by J.N.R.-V., R.L.C., K. R., P.N., and L.C., with input from J.D.S.. J.N.R.-V. wrote the main manuscript, with feedback and editing by F.K. and J.D.S..\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAcknowledgements\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWe would like to thank key co-developers of the En-ROADS simulator and its associated interactive experiences, including Ellie Johnston, Lori Siegel, Charles Jones, Travis Franck, and Elizabeth Sawin. We are also grateful to the many participants in this study who generously gave their time and shared their perspectives on how interactive En-ROADS simulations affected their understanding of and motivation for climate action.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFunding\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis work was supported by the Sequoia Climate Foundation. The views expressed are solely those of the authors.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eConflict of interest\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAll authors declare no conflict of interest.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEthics declaration\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSurvey instruments and administration, including informed consent procedures, were approved by the UMass Lowell Institutional Review Board (Protocol 21-024-ROO-EXM) and were conducted in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki.\u0026nbsp;Clinical trial number: not applicable.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eData availability\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe dataset\u003csup\u003e52\u003c/sup\u003e from this research is freely available at: https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.30795845.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003evan Vuuren, D. 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Interrater reliability: the kappa statistic. \u003cem\u003eBiochemia medica\u003c/em\u003e 22, 276\u0026ndash;282 (2012).\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":true,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"npj-climate-action","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"npjclimataction","sideBox":"Learn more about [npj Climate Action](https://www.nature.com/npjclimataction)","snPcode":"44168","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/44168/3","title":"npj Climate Action","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"NPJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8283334/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8283334/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe risks of climate change stand in stark contrast to widespread confusion, conflict, and insufficient action among decision-makers. Interactive climate policy simulations have been proposed to enable people to learn more effectively than traditional risk communication methods. Here we analyze the impact of engaging decision-makers in government, the private sector, and NGOs with the interactive En-ROADS climate policy simulator. Quantitative analyses of pre- and post-workshop surveys show statistically significant, substantive gains in participant knowledge about climate solutions, their personal connection to climate change, and their sense of empowerment to address it. Analyses of post-workshop semi-structured interviews highlight gains in knowledge about and emotional engagement with climate solutions induced by the simulation, with many participants reporting stronger motivation to act on climate. The results suggest that simulations like En-ROADS can inform and empower decision-makers to influence climate policy, offering a promising tool to bridge the gap between knowledge and action.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Interactive simulation with En-ROADS spurs climate action among decision-makers","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2025-12-22 09:49:12","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8283334/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-02-04T07:02:37+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-01-27T16:02:52+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-01-27T02:18:21+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"80577284204887527501950930985338460924","date":"2025-12-21T07:01:02+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"146235587074764411989612064643378364244","date":"2025-12-20T23:46:59+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"325557824744934613029055281146905704208","date":"2025-12-17T09:58:16+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2025-12-16T13:13:54+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2025-12-08T13:27:41+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2025-12-08T05:27:49+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"npj Climate Action","date":"2025-12-05T01:51:16+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"npj-climate-action","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"npjclimataction","sideBox":"Learn more about [npj Climate Action](https://www.nature.com/npjclimataction)","snPcode":"44168","submissionUrl":"https://submission.springernature.com/new-submission/44168/3","title":"npj Climate Action","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"NPJ","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"4423b542-bade-4c18-9da5-d428a749d357","owner":[],"postedDate":"December 22nd, 2025","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[{"id":59806827,"name":"Earth and environmental sciences/Climate sciences"},{"id":59806828,"name":"Earth and environmental sciences/Environmental social sciences"},{"id":59806829,"name":"Social science/Environmental studies"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-02-04T09:55:33+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2025-12-22 09:49:12","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8283334","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8283334","identity":"rs-8283334","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"8U1c8b4HqxoKbykW_rLl7","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}