The GREAT project at the International conference on Changing Cities!

At the International Conference on Changing Cities VI in Rhodes, Greece, in June 2024, Dr. Anna Merry from Frederick University and Marina Kyriakou from Urban Gorillas, presented the initial stages of the ‘Green Roofs’ case study from the Horizon Europe and UKRI project GREAT. We highlighted a case study that used the innovative game “Rooftop Revolution” to engage citizens and policymakers in discussions about sustainable urban planning. The project focused on repurposing rooftops in Nicosia, Cyprus, to combat climate change, exploring how these often-overlooked urban spaces could be transformed into hubs for green initiatives.

Through the display of the role-playing game, participants, including citizens and policy stakeholders, were placed in real-world scenarios where they negotiated challenges and opportunities related to rooftop utilization. The interactive nature of the game facilitated structured conversations about sustainability, fairness, and urban development, offering a new approach to addressing climate-related urban issues. The initial stages of the case study demonstrated how games can create a platform for deeper engagement, allowing diverse voices to be heard while fostering collaboration on policy solutions.

Our research emphasized the potential of games to bridge the gap between public opinion and policymaking, especially in the context of pressing challenges like climate change. By promoting dialogue and creating a space for diverse perspectives, the "Rooftop Revolution" game offers a unique way to reimagine urban spaces for sustainability. These findings could pave the way for future applications of game-based interventions to address a range of urban and environmental challenges across different regions.

You can find the extended abstract on https://zenodo.org/records/13124481