NAIROBI, 24 January 2023 – The UN Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Ozone Secretariat today launched a simulator game and avatar using the latest software technology. Apollo’s Edition is the latest addition to the Reset Earth education platform. Targeting 13-18-year-olds, the free online education material developed provides educators with resources to teach students the importance of environmental protection.
Avatar in the Metaverse
The Ozone Secretariat has used cutting-edge motion capture technology to bring their new Reset Earth character, Apollo, to life. With the aim of creating a strong connection between the character and the audience, a live actor's body movements and facial expressions were captured by a motion-capture suit with 17 sensors and headset technology for a truly human portrayal of body language and facial expression.
This technology, along with a powerful real-time 3D creation tool, has produced not only a realistic animated character, but her very own metaverse where she spends her time vlogging about an array of educational topics based on scientific research. For Reset Earth, the focus is on the ozone layer, and in particular, education material available for teachers to educate their students.
Students become the decision makers
The Reset Earth Impact Simulator game puts the students in the hot seat. As decision makers, they get to decide on four possible policy directions, all of which have specific outcomes documented and visualised by the game. Based on their understanding of the ozone layer, its function and importance, the impacts of their decisions on the environment, society, economy, and political hegemony are recorded and scored.
“By giving young people innovative learning tools, we hope to inspire them to become the future scientists and policy-makers championing environmental protection,” said Meg Seki, Executive Secretary of the Ozone Secretariat.
Lesson guides and student workbooks
Teachers can mix and match the lesson contents as they see fit and appropriate for their classes. Tools include short videos, class activities to stimulate debate and individual project tasks. The lessons are a flexible learning tool to incorporate ozone layer and environmental protection into existing curriculums
Increasing awareness among the climate champions of the future to Reset Earth
Apollo’s Edition is the latest addition to the Reset Earth education platform, complementing the Reset Earth animation, mobile game app and lesson plans for tweens. While the ozone layer is on a path to recovery by mid-century thanks to the efforts of the Montreal Protocol, the successes achieved so far could easily be undone. By banning ozone-depleting chemicals such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), which are also greenhouse gases, the Protocol helped protect the global climate and carbon sinks. The decline in emissions of ozone depleting substances avoids a rise of an estimated 0.5 to 1 degree Celsius by mid-century.
To reset Earth, future generations need to be aware of the importance of the ozone layer, why its protection is critical to stem increasing climate change and protecting the planet. A fully ratified Kigali Amendment that bans hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), potent climate warming gases, the world could avoid 0.3 to 0.5 degrees Celsius of warming by the end of the century. But only if the commitment to protecting the ozone layer and the environment is sustained.
Informed minds are powerful minds. The launch today of Apollo’s Edition can help inform and shape the global environment champions of the future and help them Reset Earth.
NOTES TO EDITORS
About the Montreal Protocol
The Montreal Protocol is a global agreement to protect the Earth’s ozone layer by phasing out the chemicals that deplete it. The landmark agreement entered into force in 1989 and it is one of the most successful global environmental agreements. Thanks to the collaborative effort of nations around the world, the ozone layer is on its way to recovery and many environmental and economic benefits have been achieved.
About the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
UNEP is the leading global voice on the environment. It provides leadership and encourages partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Keishamaza Rukikaire, Head of News and Media, UN Environment Programme
Stephanie Haysmith, Communications & Public Information Officer, UNEP Ozone Secretariat
