The ECCI project aimed to drive climate change action among pupils, teachers, teacher students, and ANE staff through an innovative initiative based on two escape games. The project was developed and tested in four countries—Germany, France, Spain, and Italy. The project had five key objectives: Objective 1: Raise awareness about climate change and possible solutions among pupils, teachers, and ANE staff in secondary schools. Objective 2: Develop an innovative approach through escape games, proving their effectiveness in achieving pedagogical goals. Pupils were expected to acquire new knowledge and develop essential skills. Objective 3: Develop and test a hybrid and flexible method to provide schools with a turnkey initiative, adaptable for both remote and in-person use. Objective 4: Empower pupils by involving them in experiencing the game, and creating an action plan. Objective 5: Involve teachers, ANE staff, and teacher students in testing the initiative to better meet their expectations and needs.
In the last decade, there has been a growing mobilization around climate issues, especially through youth-led demonstrations. Climate strikes and school marches reflect the young generation's commitment to addressing what is considered one of humanity's greatest challenges. A key demand is integrating climate change into educational curricula from primary to higher education. However, beyond scientific knowledge, young people also seek solutions. Many students, fearful of climate change, felt the need for more action. Existing educational programs often fall short, relying on top-down, siloed approaches. The ECCI project aimed to address this gap by using two innovative escape games to engage students in collaborative problem-solving around climate change. The project aimed to empower students to better address climate change while addressing pupils' needs for climate change knowledge, innovative learning, and involvement in actions. It also supported teachers and staff by developing skills, testing new methods, and offering flexible, hybrid solutions.