Japanese city aims to teach kids about sustainability with city-building browser game

NAGOYA – A website using games to teach children about the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to solve international problems such as poverty and climate change, has been launched by this city from central Japan and other organizations.

The “Nagoya SDGs Maachi” site mainly hosts a game in which players try to create a sustainable city while taking into consideration the preservation of the environment. Nagoya city officials hope the website provides a fun opportunity for children to learn more about the SDGs.

The SDGs are 17 international goals for a better and more sustainable world, in particular to “promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”, “to conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development ”, and“ ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities for all. ”They were adopted at the United Nations Summit in 2015 in the goal of achieving them by 2030.

In the game, players use points to freely place houses, businesses, parks, and other items in a 36-square city. Each item has stats related to the economy, society, and the environment, and players can craft an investment strategy to increase the extent to which they meet the SDGs.

Game points can also be obtained at Nagoya City Library, Higashiyama Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and Nagoya City Science Museum by reading the two-dimensional code on the SDGs notice board. Additionally, if someone posts an initiative or idea to achieve the SDGs on the website and then appears on the site’s bulletin board, that person will be awarded points.

The city’s environmental planning division said: “It is important to maintain a good balance between the economy, society and the environment. We hope that children will learn while wondering if cities will be sustainable in the future and what they are missing.

The game is available at: https://www.n-kd.net/sdgs/

(Japanese original by Masakatsu Oka, Nagoya Press Center)