Navigating a just transition is a complex task that requires collaboration between a range of stakeholders with diverse interests. Often, the power imbalance between local communities and wealthier, more influential actors is exacerbated by conflicting interests and limited access to knowledge. Cross-sectoral issues can also arise, where stakeholders might struggle to negotiate outside their specific areas of expertise.

Under the IKI JET project, the Wuppertal Institute has collaborated with the Centre for Systems Solutions to develop a negotiation simulation game that addresses these challenges. The game, set in the fictional coal town of Carbonia, is based on existing energy transition scenarios in real communities. It challenges players to make prudent decisions as Carbonia transitions away from coal.

The simulation game spans a fictional 15-year period, with players following a simplified coal transition scenario. Each player adopts one of 12 different stakeholder roles, taking turns to make decisions related to action cards that determine the fate of Carbonia. Players must initiate negotiation sessions to secure resources, like money or research coins, from each other to meet their assigned goals.

These interactive elements allow players to witness the consequences of their actions as different stakeholders, and thus better understand the broader picture around coal transition.

Localisation: A tailored approach for each region

In 2024, the simulation game was trialled in coal regions in Colombia and Indonesia. In each country, the game—originally developed in English—was translated, tailored, and tested in local contexts with the help of local non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to ensure effective delivery.

In Indonesia, the game was trialled in the coal-mining provinces of East Kalimantan and South Sumatra on 23 and 29 October 2024, respectively. INCREASE, a local social enterprise specialising in inclusivity topics, stepped in as the facilitator after receiving comprehensive training from the developers of the game.

In Colombia, the game was tested in three workshops, facilitated by the Center for Studies for Social Justice “Tierra Digna” and a team from  Wuppertal Institute and the Centre for Systems Solutions. The first workshop took place on 24 September 2024 at the Centro Cultural Universidad Magdalena, the second on 27 September at the Hotel Tativan in Valledupar, and the third on 1 October at the Faculty of Anthropology at Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá.

Summary and outlook

The role-playing exercises provide stakeholders with a unique opportunity to take someone else’s perspective, explore the complex dynamics of a regional coal transition, and improve their negotiation skills. Many participants stressed that this helped them gain a new understanding of the consequences of their actions in social, economic, and environmental contexts.

“We usually only see issues from one perspective, based on our own job,” said Sigid Widagdo, who works at an environmental NGO based in South Sumatra. He added that he tends to look at energy transition issues primarily through the lens of environmental impact and local communities, but that during the game, where he represented trade unions, he was able to “see it from other points of view—from those of workers, governments, and even local businesses and entrepreneurs.”

Ira Rihatini of the Energy and Mineral Resources Office in South Sumatra took on the role of representative of a development initiative group. During the game, she wanted to improve air quality through investments but found that she couldn’t achieve this without improving biodiversity first—a knock-on effect of which is to improve air quality. “From this, I learned that environmental restoration may not lead to immediate results,” Ira said. “Instead, there are steps or stages that must be completed first.”

The game proved to be effective in teaching participants that “there were no losers or winners,” said Iwan Gunawan Syaputra of the Department of Manpower and Transmigration, South Sumatra. This mindset can then unite the players in pursuit of the main goal, which is a just transition for all. “Teamwork and thinking about other groups is important,” Iwan said. “We can’t be selfish. We can’t work alone.”

Future trials and collaborations

In 2025, the game will be further trialled in coal-reliant countries where the IKI JET project operates, including Mongolia, South Africa, Thailand, and Vietnam.

The simulation game is also freely available to coal-region stakeholders around the world who would like to replicate the exercise in their own regions. The game requires trained facilitators, so please reach out if you would like to collaborate.

For more information, email coaltransitions@wupperinst.org. Find out more about the simulation game here.

Watch highlights and key takeaways from the game testing event in South Sumatra, Indonesia here.