SPACES FOR THE FUTURE 

sources of the board game

POSTCARDS FROM THE FUTURE

2029, 29 July

Sources

  • European Severe Storms Laboratory (ESSL), “Hailstorms of 2024” report.

 

2030, 8 July

Sources

 

2032, 21 October

Sources

 

2039, 3 March

Sources

  • Max Roser, How many animals get slaughtered every day?, Published online at OurWorldinData.org. Retrieved from: 'https://ourworldindata.org/how-many-animals-get-slaughtered-every-day', 2023

 

2044, 9 October

Sources

  • Nicolò Fagone La Zita, Torino, il miracolo di CarpeCarbon, torino.corriere.it, 17.6.2024.

 

2047, 5 February

Sources

  • Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis, Knopf, New York 2020.

 

2048, 4 July

Sources

 

2050, 4 June

Sources

  • Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis, Knopf, New York 2020.

 

2053, 13 August

Sources

  • “It’s a sun trap”: climate crisis brings boomtime for British wine”, The Guardian, 12.4.2024.

 

2054, 9 January

Sources

  • Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis, Knopf, New York 2020.

 

2061, 10 June

Sources

 

2088, 9 January

Sources

  • Robin McKie, “Arctic zombie viruses in Siberia could spark terrifying new pandemic, scientists warn”,  The Guardian, 21.06.2024.

 

2090, 18 July 

Sources

  • Earth System Science Data, WARMCOASTS project, Horizon 2020 (Grant agreement No. ERC-StG-802414)

 

2099, 6 November 

Sources

  • Christiana Figueres, Tom Rivett-Carnac, The Future We Choose: Surviving the Climate Crisis, Knopf, New York 2020.

 

TRUE STORIES

1 | BIANCA, ACTIVIST

Sources

  • This story is taken from an interview with a witness conducted during the Green Ethics project!

 

2 | SIX YOUNG PEOPLE TAKE 32 COUNTRIES TO COURT

Sources

  • Selin Girit, Climate change: Six young people take 32 countries to court, bbc.com, 27.9.2023.
  • Ayyoub (Hazhar Jamali), Climate justice denied? European court of human rights rules against Portuguese youth climate case, climaterightsdatabase.com, 9.4.2024.
  • Victory for Swiss Senior Women for Climate Protection: Climate protection is a human right, greenpeace.org, 9.4.2024.

 

3 | CROPS DISAPPEARED

Sources

  • Sofia Filippidou, Christos Tsiamis. "Impact of the September 2023 Storm Daniel and Subsequent Flooding in Thessaly (Greece) on the Natural and Built Environment and on Infectious Disease Emergence." Environments, vol. 11, no. 8, 2024, p. 163. https://doi.org/10.3390/environments11080163

 

4 | THE UNEXPECTED LEGAL BATTLE OF A CLIMATE ACTIVIST

Source

 

5 | TWO MUSICIANS BOUGHT THEIR FIRST APARTMENT UNDER WATER

Sources

  • Eva Rodríguez, Asocian de forma directa la DANA en España con el cambio climático, heraldo.es, 13.11.2024.

 

6 | THE TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION

Sources

  • This story is taken from an interview with a witness conducted during the Green Ethics project!


 

WONDERS OF THE LIVING

1 | THE ALBATROSS

Sources

  • BBC Planet Earth


2 | THE OCTOPUS

Sources

  • Research led by the sea biologist Julian Finn, from the Melbourne Victoria Museum, Australia, and published on Current Biology (Ap).


3 | THE SPERM WHALE

Sources

  • Carl Safina, Becoming Wild: How Animal Cultures Raise Families, Create Beauty, and Achieve Peace, Henry Holt and Co., New York 2020


4 | THE CROW

Sources

  • Virginia Morell, These crows may count in a way similar to human toddlers, in «Science», 23.5.2024.


5 | THE PHOENIX FLOWER

Sources

  • Ana Stjelja, The Ramonda Flower – a Symbol of Survival and Remembrance, Europeana 2024. https://www.europeana.eu/en/stories/the-ramonda-flower


6 | THE SEA CUCUMBER

Source

 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-45730-0, 26.02.2024



ICONS

1 | WANGARI MUTA MAATHAI: THE LADY OF THE TREES

Sources

  • 7 inspiring African women who have helped the climate crisis, treeaid.org, 8.5.2024.

 

6 | HINDOU IBRAHIM

Sources

  • Estos líderes indígenas aportan sus conocimientos en Davos 2024, es.weforum.org, 17.1.2024.
  • Hindou Ibrahim: Living in harmony with nature, un.org, 9.5.2022.



TRIVIA

Group (A)

A1
Here is a quiz ‘in reverse’: you have to say which answer is wrong.

The question will also seem strange at first, but the topic is important.

In your opinion, 3.5% of a group of people is:

  1. a) little, but it makes a difference to me being part of it
  2. b) quite a lot: it makes a differenceto me even when I ams not part of it
  3. c) this is the wrong answer


Sources

  • Erica Chenoweth - Maria J. Stephan, Why Civil Resistance Works: The Strategic Logic of Nonviolent Conflict, Columbia University Press, 2011.
  • Rebecca Solnit, Big oil coined ‘carbon footprints’ to blame us for their greed. Keep them on the hook, theguardian.com, 23.8.2021.
  • Bill McKibben, Multiplication Saves the Day, orionmagazine.org, 11.11.2008.

 

A2

Which of the following cheeses is produced with the greatest impact on the environment?

  1. a) camembert
    b) feta
    c) mozzarella
    d) trappist

Sources

 

A3

How many major mass extinctions of living species have there been in the history of our planet?

  1. a) 1
  2. b) None so far
  3. c) 5

Sources

 

A4 

How many degrees Celsius is the average temperature of our planet increasing every decade due to climate change?

  1. a) 0.1°C
  2. b) 0.2°C
  3. c) 0.5°C

Source 

 

A5

Flooded streets, fallen trees, fallen facades, fires caused by lightning. We all remember those storms that hit us last summer. Or, to call them by their real name – supercell storms. An increase in temperature by 1 degree is enough to increase the amount of water vapour by 7%. And water vapour is the fuel for thunder clouds. These storms form when a cold air mass reaches the superheated ground causing extreme instability of the atmosphere. These storms, like tornadoes, are not uncommon in some parts of America. And now, due to climate change, they have become part of our everyday life.

The increased use of fossil fuel-based transport and industry affects:

  1. a) air pollution and the occurrence of extreme storms
  2. b) air pollution only

Sources 

 

A6

Fast fashion is when you buy cheap, mass-produced clothes. This causes a lot of pollution. Although the low prices are attractive, we should ask whether the price we pay is too high for our environment.

In Serbia, about 82,000 tonnes of clothes are sold every year. There is a tradition of visiting flea markets and second-hand shops, where we can help the environment a little by buying from them.

How much clothing do Serbians buy each year?

  1. a) 8 kg
  2. b) 12 kg

Source

  • Marič, Miha, et al. Comparison of Attitudes in Slovenia and Serbia Towards Circular Economy in Textile Industry. University of Maribor & University of Belgrade, 2024.

Group (B) answers

B1

What happens if wasps become extinct?

  1. a) Entire forests may disappear
  2. b) Bees will multiply
  3. c) Nothing special: they are pests that sting and don’t make honey!

Sources

  • Fabio Prezoto, et al. "Pest Control Potential of Social Wasps in Small Farms and Urban Gardens." Insects, vol. 10, no. 8, 2019, p. 250. MDPI

 

B2 

How much water does an average person use when they take a bath?

  1. a) 90-120 l
    b) 10-15 l
    c) 30-45 l
    d) 60-70 l

Sources

  • U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Water Q&A: How much water does a bath use? United States Department of the Interior.

 

B3 

What is Youngo?

  1. a) An electric car of the latest generation, powered solely by wind energy, to be launched on the market in 2030 by a Japanese start-up company
  2. b) An orchestra of young talents, financed by the European Union, which promotes a repertoire where both classical and pop music alternate to make people think and be moved by the climate issue
  3. c) A network of children and youth climate activists, acting within the United Nations Convention on Climate Change

Sources

  • Martina Girola, Dobbiamo lottare per non essere messi a tacere. La parola ai popoli indigeni presenti alla Y4C, lifegate.it, 28.10.2021.
  • YOUNGO, unfccc.int.

 

B4

Some people do not recycle materials like plastic bottles. Where do plastic bottles end up when they are not recycled?

  1. a) They are eaten by 220 different types of fish
  2. b) They are eaten by humans that eat those fish
  3. c) They are made into plastic purses

Sources

  • Belén Delgado, Los microplásticos: una atracción fatal para los peces, elpais.com, 28.8.2017.

 

B5 

Have you ever tried asking an AI like ChatGPT how much water it consumes on average for every question you ask?

  1. a) about the equivalent of a teaspoon
  2. b) about the equivalent of a small bottle
  3. c) about the equivalent of a jerry can

Sources

  • Chiara Crescenzi, L'uso di ChatGpt equivale al consumo di migliaia di litri d'acqua, wired.it, 5.5.2023.

 

B6 

As our planet becomes hotter and hotter, our oceans are feeling the heat too. The Mediterranean Sea, often called the cradle of civilisation, is now one of the places most affected by climate change. Let's dive into the scorching reality of its waters!

What jaw-dropping sea surface temperature did the Mediterranean Sea reach in August 2024?

  1. a) A balmy bath-like 26.5°C
  2. b) A toasty jacuzzi-esque 27.3°C
  3. c) A sizzling record-breaker of 28.9°C
  4. d) An apocalyptic fish-frying 30.0°C

Source

  • Mercator Ocean International. August 15th 2024, warmest surface temperature in the Mediterranean Sea. Copernicus Marine Service


Group (C) answers

C1 

In 2019, the EU countries signed the Green Deal, an agreement to make Europe the first carbon-neutral continent by 2050.

In Italy, for instance, some changes have already taken place as a result of the Green Deal. Of those listed below, which one is false?

  1. a) Citizens who want to buy electric cars have been financially supported and recharging stations have been installed
  2. b) A lot of old buses have been replaced with electric, hybrid or hydrogen-powered vehicles
  3. c) Urban bike lanes have been built
  4. d) 300,000 solar panels have been installed on schools, town halls and government buildings
  5. e) More than half a million trees have been planted in 76 different locations

Sources


C2

Climate-altering gases are the gases responsible for the increase in the natural greenhouse effect, the natural process that keeps our planet warm enough to sustain life.

Which of the following is not a climate-altering gas?

  1. a) Methane
  2. b) Carbon dioxide - CO2
  3. c) Water vapour
  4. d) Nitrogen Protoxide
  5. e) Nitrogen

Sources

  • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Summary for Policymakers. 2021.

 

C5

In 2022, greenhouse gas emissions from transport in the EU were about 26% higher than in 1990. Transport made up about 29% of the EU's greenhouse gas emissions in 2022. 

And every litre of fuel used by a car puts more than 2kg of CO2 into the air.

This means that, on average, filling up a car releases:

  1. a) More than 10 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere
  2. b) More than 100 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere
  3. c) Less than 10 kg of CO2 into the atmosphere

Sources

  • Transport and mobility, eea.europa.eu, 20.11.2024 mod

 

C6

The textile industry is the third-largest cause of water degradation. Making one cotton T-shirt uses 2,700 litres of fresh water. How long could this amount of water fulfill a person's drinking needs?

  1. a) 8 months
  2. b) 1.5 years
  3. c) 2.5 years

Sources

  • European Parliament. What if fashion were good for the planet? 2020.​



EVERYDAY LIFE

1 | A (NOT SO) PLAUSIBLE DIALOGUE BETWEEN A CUSTOMER AND A SHOP ASSISTANT

Sources


2 | INTERNET AND MOBILE PHONES

Sources

  • Deloitte. Environmental Impact of Smartphones. Deloitte Insights, 2022
  • Mike Berners-Lee, How Bad Are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything. Profile Books, 2020.


3 | AIR TRAVEL

Sources

  • Jan Klenner, Helene Muri, and Anders H. Strømman. "Domestic and International Aviation Emission Inventories for the UNFCCC Parties." Environmental Research Letters, vol. 19, no. 5, 2024
  • Inquinamento del traffico aereo: quanto impatta sull’ambiente?, am.pictet.com, May  2021.


4 | MEAT

Sources

  • J.S. Foer, We are the weather - saving the planet begins at breakfast, Farras, Straus and Giroux, New York 2019.


5 | FAST FASHION

Sources

  • Maxine Bédat, Unraveled: the life and death of a garment, Random House USA Inc, New York 2021.
  • Giorgia Marino, Ellen Macarthur foundation: let’s re-design the fashion system, interview to Marilyn Martinez – Ellen Macarthur foundation, renewablematter.eu, 6.9.2022.
  • A New Textile Economy della Ellen MacArthur Foundation, emf.thirdlight.com.


6 | BRIGHT IDEA

Sources

  • Switching to LED lighting is one of the most cost-effective ways to reduce energy consumption, build-up.ec.europa.eu, 23.11.2023.



MINIGAMES

1 | THE ‘SPORTS’ GRAPH

Sources

  • Among the various institutions that have verified the "hockey stick" graph are the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) and Penn State University.


2 | VIRTUAL WATER

Sources

 

3 | THE GREENHOUSE EFFECT

Sources

 

4 | WHO CARES ABOUT THE POLAR BEAR 

Sources

  • The polar bear: more than a poster child, greenpeace.org, 11.12.2013.


5 | THE RUN OF INEQUALITIES OF ADAPTATION

Sources

  • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, 2022. Chapter 8.


6 | THE WEAPONS OF DENIALISM

Sources

  • Sara Chinaglia, Il negazionismo climatico: cos’è e com’è oggi, duegradi.eu, 4.12.2022.
  • Juanne Pili, La strana lettera dei 1200 scienziati che negano il cambiamento climatico, 30.8.2022.



TIME TO KNOW

1 | WHAT'S A FEW EXTRA DEGREES?

Sources

  • Jun Shen, Zhong-Qiang Chen, Paul B. Wignall et al. "Early Triassic Oceanic Anoxia in South China." Nature Communications, vol. 12, 2021, article no. 2177, https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22298-7.
  • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Climate Change 2014: Synthesis Report. Fifth Assessment Report (AR5). IPCC, 2014, https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar5/syr.


2 | IS THIS REALLY ALL MY RESPONSIBILITY?

Sources

Rebecca Solnit. "Big Oil Coined 'Carbon Footprints' to Blame Us for Their Greed. Keep Them on the Hook." The Guardian, 23 Aug. 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/aug/23/big-oil-coined-carbon-footprints-to-blame-us-for-their-greed-keep-them-on-the-hook. 


3 | COP

Sources


4 | A 100 BILLION DOLLAR A YEAR FUND!

Sources

  • Climate Finance and the USD 100 billion goal, oecd.org
  • Cop28: conclusioni e considerazioni, amnesty.it, 19.12.2023.


5 | DENIALISM

Sources

  • Sara Chinaglia, Il negazionismo climatico: cos’è e com’è oggi, duegradi.eu, 4.12.2022.
  • Yale Climate Opinion Maps 2023, climatecommunication.yale.edu, 13.12.2023.
  • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), AR6 - Sesto Rapporto di valutazione, ipccitalia.cmcc.it


6 | FAST FASHION

Sources


7 | WATER IN AFRICA

Sources


8 | MORE FAST FASHION

Source

  • Marič, Miha, et al. Comparison of Attitudes in Slovenia and Serbia Towards Circular Economy in Textile Industry. University of Maribor & University of Belgrade, 2024.


9 | AVOCADOS

Source

 

10 | CLIMATE CHANGE

Source

  • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis. Contribution of Working Group I to the Sixth Assessment Report of the IPCC, 2021, https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/.


11 | WATER CONSUMPTION

Sources

  • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Water for People, Water for Life: The United Nations World Water Development Report. UNESCO Publishing, 2003


12 | THE RIPPLE EFFECT

Sources


13 | THE BUTTERFLY EFFECT

Sources

  • Edward N. Lorenz. "Deterministic Nonperiodic Flow." Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences, vol. 20, no. 2, 1963, pp. 130–141.


14 | MORE CLIMATE CHANGE

Sources

  • Causas del cambio climático, climate.ec.europa.eu


15 | DRY POLAND

Sources

  • Statistics Poland. "Water 'bout that! Poland 24th in EU in terms of water resources, says new report." Science in Poland, 4 Oct. 2021


16 | NATIVES VS CHEVRON

Sources

  • Helena Gualinga and Nina Gualinga, #EndAmazonCrude: A Call to Action - 2022 Bioneers Conference, youtube.com, 28.6.2022.
  • Paul Paz y Miño, Chevron’s environmental crimes: 13 years of evasion and escalation, amazonwatch.org, 14.2.2024.
  • http://www.bioneers.org


17 | THE GUARDIANS OF THE EARTH

Sources

  • Dr. Lyla June Johnston, video intervention available on Compassion in world farming, ciwf.it, 9.8.2023.


18 | CHOCOLATE

Sources

  • "Why Easter eggs cost so much: we found out on a cocoa farm." The Times, 12 Apr. 2025
  • Yida Sun et al. "Global supply chains amplify economic costs of future extreme heat." Nature, vol. 617, 2023, pp. 95–100.​