Interactive Workshop: Social Simulation on Planned Relocation
🌐 Language: German (if only German-speaking participants attend) or in English
♿ Wheel-chair accessible
🎟️ Event free of charge
Hosted by: Munich Re Foundation
Around the world, communities are increasingly confronted with climate impacts so severe that staying in place may no longer be safe. Planned relocation – moving parts of or entire communities to safer ground – is complex, emotional, and often contentious. It is not simply a matter of building houses in another location. It means rebuilding livelihoods, identity, community structures, and cultural meaning.
The social simulation responds to a critical gap: while policymakers are expected to make relocation decisions, few have ever experienced the negotiations, uncertainties, and trade-offs involved. The result in real life can be poorly designed relocations with negative outcomes for communities.
To support better decisions and more people-centred approaches, the Planned Relocation Simulation translates this complexity into an engaging, hands-on learning experience. It is designed for training and capacity-building: instead of offering a step-by-step blueprint, it lets participants explore competing priorities, trade-offs and decision-making dynamics. Through immersive roleplay, participants take on the perspectives of community members, local and national authorities, funders, and technical experts. They negotiate, face climate-related risks, and make difficult decisions – often under time pressure and with unequal access to information, just like in real life.
Our target group for the workshop: anyone interested in climate change and its impacts who would like to gain practical insights. The workshop lasts four hours, and we are looking for a group of engaged participants who are willing to take part actively, immerse themselves in their roles, and represent different interests. No specific prior knowledge is required. English language skills are required. Participation is limited to 20 people.
Agenda
14:00 Welcome by the three cooperation partners (HM, UNU-EHS, MRF)
14:15 Introduction to the topic, guided by two key questions:
a) What is planned relocation in the context of climate mobility?
b) What is a social simulation, and why can it be important in this context?
14:30 Start of the simulation (moderated)
17:30 End of the simulation and lessons learned (moderated)
18:00 Get-together at Café K6
19:30 End of the event
Speakers and moderation
Dr. Ann-Christine Link
Research Manager, UNU-EHS, Bonn
Prof. Thomas Ackermann
Dean of Studies, Munich University of Applied Sciences
Christian Barthelt
Senior Projectmanager, Munich Re Foundation