A new educational game developed for Minecraft Education is helping young people explore the challenges of coastal erosion, flooding and climate change in an engaging and interactive way.
A new game called CoastCraft has been launched to help schoolchildren aged 9 to 14 learn about climate change and coastal management. Developed for Minecraft Education, the game places players in a virtual version of Bude, Cornwall, where they must respond to rising sea levels and flooding while balancing environmental, economic and community needs.
CoastCraft forms part of the Environment Agency’s £200 million Flood and Coastal Innovation Programme and was created in partnership with Cornwall Council and Minecraft Education. Through gameplay, young people learn about coastal processes and adaptation measures, including nature-based solutions such as sand dunes that can help reduce erosion and flooding risks.
The game was tested with students from Sir James Smith School and Windmill Hill Academy, helping them build an understanding of how communities can prepare for and adapt to climate impacts. It builds on the success of previous educational games, Rivercraft and Rivercraft 2, which explored flood resilience and river management.
As coastal communities across Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly face increasing challenges from sea level rise, coastal erosion and more extreme weather, educating young people about adaptation is becoming increasingly important. Interactive tools such as CoastCraft can help build awareness and inspire future environmental leaders.
The project also highlights the value of engaging communities in conversations about climate resilience. By making complex topics accessible and enjoyable, CoastCraft helps young people understand both the risks facing coastal areas and the range of solutions available to help communities adapt.
Read more on the GOV.UK website.
How Is This Helping DCIoS Adapt To Climate Change?
Action HBEE 2: Local Planning Authorities to identify Coastal Change Management Areas (CCMAs) wherever rates of shoreline change are expected to be significant and implement appropriate regulations to manage development in these areas.
Action HBEE 4: Policymakers to engage with the public to ensure awareness and understanding of the predicted impacts of climate change around the coast generally, and on their local communities specifically – to co-produce knowledge and agree viable actions.
Action HBEE 5: Policymakers to investigate the legal, financial and practical means by which coastal communities facing significant adaptation challenges might be helped – so that realistic Adaptation Plans can be developed and delivered where needed.
