Return to the Isle of Ted: Simulating the Collective Action Problem of Climate Change

Return to the Isle of Ted: Simulating the Collective Action Problem of Climate Change

By Jocelyn Sage Mitchell, Northwestern University in Qatar

This article modifies the classic “Isle of Ted” simulation to teach students about the collective action problems associated with climate change. Modifications include the introduction of a common-pool resource (i.e., fish) and increased pirate attacks to model rising climate threats and unequal distribution of risk. A return to the Isle of Ted enables a deeper engagement with specific collective action problems of climate change, including the tragedy of the commons and issues of global inequality. This article provides a road map for the incorporation of this modified simulation into active-learning classrooms.