Inspiring young people to learn more about coastal flood resilience
Children and young people are being inspired to learn more about climate change and coastal flood resilience through an interactive Minecraft game, CoastCraft.
Issue
Coastal erosion is a growing problem affecting England’s coastlines, constantly changing in response to climate change, weather patterns and human activity.
As future decision makers, providing young people with the knowledge and skills necessary to think critically about effective coastline management, can pave the way to a sustainable future that serves both people and the environment.
Approach
Built for Minecraft Education, the Environment Agency developed an innovative and unique game called CoastCraft.
Aimed at schoolchildren aged nine to 14, CoastCraft helps young people understand the challenges of sea level rise and coastal management in a fun and engaging way, through a relatable and digestible platform.
Impact
CoastCraft supports key curriculum goals such as understanding physical geography (coastal processes, landforms, and ecosystems), human geography (land use, economic activity, and environmental impact), and climate change.
By offering real-life situations and decisions to make within the game, CoastCraft enhances young people’s understanding of how coastal landscapes are managed and encourages them to draw on their geographical knowledge to think critically and make informed decisions.
CoastCraft allows children and young people experiment with new approaches on the Minecraft platform, supporting a next generation of coastal researchers.
CoastCraft also supports wider community engagement - enabling local authorities, the Environment Agency, and educators to raise awareness about climate resilience, sea level rise, and adaptation planning.
More information
Organisation: Minecraft Education, Environment Agency and Cornwall Council