CoastCraft Teaches Climate Care in Minecraft's New Educational World

CoastCraft, a new educational version of Minecraft, introduces players to coastal erosion and climate adaptation, set in Bude, Cornwall. Developed with the UK Environment Agency and Cornwall Council, this custom world aims to educate students on flood resilience and environmental management through interactive gameplay.

Key facts

• CoastCraft is available as a downloadable Minecraft world from the game's educational arm.
• Players engage in managing coastal erosion impacts and climate change in the virtual town of Bude.
• Developed with support from the UK Environment Agency and Cornwall Council, the game is part of a broader innovation programme.
• The gameplay involves decision-making constrained by budget limitations and evaluates strategies like infrastructure relocation and nature-based solutions.
• Players can see the long-term effects of their decisions by fast-forwarding to 2040 and 2060.

Impact / What’s next

The game emphasizes balancing economic, social, and environmental factors. By simulating real-world scenarios, CoastCraft offers a practical understanding of coastal management. After each decision round, players receive feedback from a panel of non-player characters (NPCs) that assesses sustainability scores, promoting awareness of different coastal management strategies. Following its release, teachers are encouraged to integrate CoastCraft into their curriculum, offering students a chance to explore coastal management contexts they might not encounter otherwise.