In October, the EU4ClimateResilience project supported an educational training in Lviv that brought together active young people, experienced mentors and innovative learning approaches. The central element of the programme was the “Ecotopia” board game — a tool developed with the project’s support to strengthen environmental awareness, negotiation skills and understanding of sustainable solutions at the community level. 

About the “Ecotopia” Game 

The game is built around interaction among participants, who over the course of 2–3 hours work on creating three eco-projects for a shared “building” that reduce its ecological footprint and increase climate resilience. 

Through different roles, interests and scenarios, participants: 

• represent the interests of their character while seeking solutions for the common good; 

• practice negotiation and decision-making skills; 

• learn about environmental solutions at the household or neighbourhood level; 

• distinguish between “quick wins” and systemic changes; 

• co-create an action plan for a more sustainable environment. 

The game’s environmental framework includes five impact areas: energy and heating, water, waste and circularity, mobility, green areas and biodiversity. 

Training at the MoloDvizh Centre: Modern Environmental Education in Practice 

During the Lviv training, participants not only immersed themselves in the game, but also gained a comprehensive learning experience that included: 

• interactive lectures from experts; 

• facilitation workshops; 

• practical modules on youth policy; 

• field visits to successful environmental initiatives in Lviv — local homeowners’ associations, food banks and eco-spaces. 

Young participants worked with real cases, learned to address conflicting interests, build joint decisions and create dialogue — just as it happens in real communities.