Satellite event: PolicyLab: Bridging EN-ROADS and Igloo Vision for Climate Decision-Making

The integration of EN-ROADS, a scientifically rigorous climate policy simulator, with Igloo Vision’s 360° immersive technology represents a significant innovation in climate education, stakeholder engagement, and policy training. This initiative uses cutting-edge visualization techniques to enhance the accessibility and impact of complex climate models, transforming abstract data into an interactive, experiential learning process. By immersing participants in dynamic policy scenarios, the project fosters a deeper understanding of the systemic consequences of climate-related decisions, bridging the gap between scientific modeling and policy action. 

This initiative aims to address a fundamental challenge in climate governance: the difficulty of translating scientific evidence into actionable, widely understood policy strategies. Traditional climate models often remain confined to academic or expert circles, limiting their reach and impact. By projecting EN-ROADS simulations in an immersive 360° environment, participants—including policymakers, educators, and business leaders—can engage directly with climate scenarios, testing the outcomes of different policy choices in real time. This methodological shift enables an unprecedented level of engagement, allowing stakeholders to visualize long-term climate trajectories, explore trade-offs between mitigation strategies, and understand the urgency of systemic transformations. 

The innovative aspect of this approach lies in its ability to simulate not only gradual climate trends but also sudden disruptions through scenario-based interventions. Participants may be confronted with breaking news developments, such as an unforeseen cyberattack on global energy infrastructure or an extreme climate event accelerating socio-economic instability. These elements introduce complexity and realism, training decision-makers to navigate uncertainty and develop adaptive strategies in high-pressure environments. Unlike conventional workshops or static policy discussions, this interactive format fosters systems thinking, encouraging participants to recognize the interconnectedness of economic, environmental, and geopolitical factors.

Furthermore, this initiative has significant implications for climate education and policy design. By integrating immersive technology into climate decision-making, it offers a replicable model for universities, research institutions, and governmental bodies seeking to enhance climate literacy and strategic foresight. Beyond academic applications, the approach could be deployed in corporate sustainability training, public engagement initiatives, and international climate negotiations, where complex data visualization and real-time policy simulations could improve stakeholder alignment and decision-making efficiency. 

Ultimately, the combination of EN-ROADS and Igloo Vision creates an innovative platform where climate policy is no longer an abstract intellectual exercise but an immersive, participatory experience. This methodological advancement not only strengthens climate education but also equips policymakers with the tools needed to make informed, data-driven decisions in an era of accelerating environmental and geopolitical challenges.