Carbon Countdown™ is a strategy board game that brings climate action planning to life. In just six rounds (representing six years), players work together to transform a campus into a model of sustainability. The goal is to cut as many emissions as possible while competing in categories like Energy, Transportation, and Waste & Materials. Designed for quick play and teamwork, the game mirrors real-world decision-making. Though based on CSU’s Climate Action Plan, it can be easily adapted to other institutions’ goals.
Carbon Countdown™ responds to a growing need for interactive, educational tools that help institutions and communities understand and act on their carbon reduction goals. As climate plans become more common across sectors, making them accessible and engaging is essential. By using real greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory data and simulating action timelines, this game bridges the gap between policy and public engagement. Its design empowers players to see the impact of emissions-related decisions in a short, dynamic format.
Carbon Countdown™ is a collaborative board game developed from Colorado State University’s Climate Action Plan and greenhouse gas inventory data. The game compresses a critical six-year emissions reduction timeline into six rounds of play, where participants make strategic decisions to implement emission-reducing projects. Each project—categorized as Energy, Transportation, or Waste & Materials—removes emissions tiles from a shared game board. Projects may also affect a team’s “reputation,” introducing trade-offs and strategic depth.
The game accommodates 2 to 4 individual players or up to 8 participants in teams and plays in about 30–50 minutes. This format makes it ideal for workshops, classrooms, or stakeholder meetings. Though tailored for CSU’s climate goals, the framework is easily adaptable to other institutions by updating the emissions inventory, project cards, and game pieces. This makes Carbon Countdown™ not just a game, but a customizable teaching and planning tool that reflects real-world climate strategies.
Available for Exclusive Licensing
TRL: 8
Copyright/Trademark
Aidan Lawton
Jessy McGowan
Jessy.McGowan@colostate.edu
970-491-7100