PBL 202 Problem-Based Learning

March 2023

RAPID
CLIMATE
CHANGE
Project Round #1: Test the Waters

CYAN GROUP

Eden Manzur
Noelle Thompson
Kaitlyn Linnegar
Cassandra Dowlan
Astrid Bagni
Image Adobe Stock
PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters CONTENTS

CONTENTS PROJECT BRIEF

Project brief 02

GROUP

Group 03
Group agreement 04

SYSTEM & STAKEHOLDER MAPS

System Maps 05
Stakeholder Map 08

PROBLEM CONTEXT

Context (Lotus) Map 09

Primary Research 10
Secondary Research 14
‘The 5 Whys’ 22
Key Insights 26

PROBLEM REFRAMING
How Might We... Questions 27
Challenge Statement 31
Reasoning for POV selection 32

Image Adobe Stock NEXT STEPS

Group reflection, status update, and 33
next steps proposal

REFERENCES
References 34

Next: Project Brief CYAN GROUP 01

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters GROUP > Project Brief

PROJECT BRIEF

Focus on a ‘problem’ identified in the UN Sustainable 17 01

Development Goals. These are essentially based on long term 16 Partnership
02
No
solutions that improve life, offer sustainable solutions and Peace,
for the
Goal
Poverty
Justice, Zero
provide a way forward for future generations. & strong Hunger
15 Institution
03
Working in groups, we are to ‘progressively devise a solution to Life
on Land
Good Health
& Well Being
the problem by working on weekly missions and documenting
the progress’. Assessment 1 missions include:
14 Life Quality
04
Below Education
Water
• Mission 1: Group creation and agreement declaration SUSTAINABLE
• Mission 2: System and stakeholder map DEVELOPMENT

GOALS
Climate
• Mission 3: Problem context research 13 Action
Gender
Equality
05
• Mission 5: Problem reframing
Respon- Clean
sible Water
Consum- & Sanitation

12 ption
06
Sustainable Clean
Cities Energy
Reduced Economic
11 Inequalities Industry,
Innovation,
Growth 07
Infrastructure

10 08
09
Our broad problem topic is
Rapid Climate Change
Image Freepik

Next: Group Members CYAN GROUP 02

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters GROUP > Group Members

GROUP MEMBERS

ASTRID EDEN KAITLYN

Bachelor of Bachelor of Visual Bachelor of
Game Design Communications UX and Web Design

CASSANDRA NOELLE
Bachelor of Interior Bachelor of Visual
Design Commercial Communications

Next: Group Agreement CYAN GROUP 03

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters GROUP > Group Agreement

GROUP AGREEMENT

Next: System Maps CYAN GROUP 04

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters SYSTEMS & STAKEHOLDERS > Systems Maps

SYSTEMS MAPS

Our diverse team allowed us to see the problem from different

perspectives and as a group make new connections that resulted in a
more comprehensive understanding of the issue. Creating the system View large scale maps
map we clustered topics relating to rapid climate change, synthesising on our website
our knowledge and narrowing our focus to a specific problem topic.
It provided us with a broader understanding of climate change and its
causes, effects, solutions and barriers.

Increased
Drier conditions chance of
bushfires

Fresh water scarcity Droughts

Heatwaves Threatens Food sources

Access to water Vegetation
survival of
natural habitats
Struggling food & species
chain Extreme Increased
weather events Temperatures
Extinction Habitat loss
Death/diminishing
marine life

LAND
Slow animals Slow habitat
HABITAT Habitats are changing faster adaptation adaptation
LOSS than animals can adapt
Rising Sea Levels Wildfires Hurricanes Droughts
East Australian
Current
Kelp forests & Coral bleaching & death migrating Rising temperature,
More carbon Loss of animals miss
long-term shifts in
sea grass food sources
in the natural temperatures and
fields wiped Natural Disasters
atmosphere carbon sinks Ocean Current weather patterns
out Marine Heatwaves leading to death
changes Animals being eg Sydney
Ocean plants
swept away Octopus
and animals
from natural ending up in
can’t keep up
Marine life moving Changing habitats Tasmania
More acidic
to cooler, deeper migration Warmer Oceans
oceans warmer northern waters
waters patterns are too hot, too much
Faster current
temperature-
warm water mixes with
cold southern water
Negatively
impacts new
CAUSES
related habitat
reproductive
issues
Seawater Coastal Look at impact on humans to
Threatens
intrusion into ecosystems Rising Sea Levels OCEANS address apathy and create
wetlands
freshwaters threatened eg feminisation of impetus for action
green turtles.
Not understanding/
Gender is
Reduced reproduction rates believing the
eg Kakadu Coastal Erosion determined by
severity
temperature of
nest
Mangrove Flora Fauna
destruction
Threat to human resistance to
change

Biodiversity &
Habitat loss is major
factor for extinction EXTINCTION EFFECTS Ecosystems BARRIERS
government saving
money

from Rapid giving up current

Climate Change lifestyle transport

manufacturing of
people don't care goods
because they cant
see the current
effects of climate
HUMAN Retain more water & Nutrient dense Resists pests & change
Zoonotic
loss of pollinators Agricultural loss Impact of biodiversity Retains carbon minerals produce disease
loss on humans diseases
big money making
POLICñ
& companies e.g. oil
LAW and coal
Air & water Reduce Healthy/living SOLUTIONS
quality chemicals soils Lack of awareness
Tourism industry
losses Farming
captive
breeding Replanting
NATURE- COMMUNITñ
vegetation in Regeneration TECHNOLOÜ
BASED -BASED
mangroves ICAL

Rapid-growing Seaweed farms Parents

Australia’s
Schools
tourism industry translocation of Assisted
is largely nature- vulnerable species evolution Documentaries
based Convert CO2 to Awareness Education
oxygen Conservation Renewable energy Targeted Exhibitions
Sustainable
genetic actions for Manifestations
fishing practices
modification ecosystems
Building species Social media
GLOBAL WARMING/ resilience
Whale poo Smart homes Recycling
GREENHOUSE Reduce non-climatic Gene sequencing Conservation drones
EFFECT stressors eg pollution,
Protect native
wildlife areas techniques to save
Remote
monitoring of
to track and monitor
land-clearing etc species from incurable wild regions for any
wildlife
natural disasters
CLIMATE CHANGE Muriyira poo floats on When Muriyira whales eat diseases
INCREASED Positive Feedback loop ocean currents and grows
gardens of phytoplankton
Plankton, their poo helps
grow phytoplankton
Fire
management
CARBONÀ
Cli:ate Change & Biodiversity los"
IN THE are intricately linked. The solution t

Food for many Absorbs carbon

ATMOSPHERE Climate Change will be dependent on conserving
& restoring our ecosystems & biodiversity. ocean animals from
atmosphere
Buffer zones Cultural burning
ECOSYSTEM à around sensitive
BIODIVERSITY LOSS vegetaion/
habitats
REDUCTION IN
NATURAL CARBON
SINKS

SYSTEMS MAP 1 SYSTEMS MAP 2

Rapid Climate Change Climate-related Biodiversity Loss

Next: System Map 1 CYAN GROUP 05

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters SYSTEMS & STAKEHOLDERS > Systems Maps

SYSTEMS MAPS

SYSTEMS MAP 1
Rapid Climate Change

View larger map

Next: System Map 2 CYAN GROUP 06

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters SYSTEMS & STAKEHOLDERS > System Maps

Increased
Drier conditions chance of
bushfires

SYSTEMS MAPS Fresh water scarcity

Heatwaves
Droughts

Threatens
survival of
natural habitats
Access to water Vegetation Food sources

Struggling food & species

chain Extreme Increased
weather events Temperatures
Extinction Habitat loss
Death/diminishing
marine life

LAND
Slow animals Slow habitat
HABITAT Habitats are changing faster adaptation adaptation
LOSS than animals can adapt
Rising Sea Levels Wildfires Hurricanes Droughts
SYSTEMS MAP 2 East Australian
Current

Climate-related Biodiversity Loss More carbon

in the
Loss of
natural
Kelp forests &
sea grass
Coral bleaching & death migrating
animals miss
food sources
Rising temperature,
long-term shifts in
fields wiped Natural Disasters temperatures and
atmosphere carbon sinks Ocean Current weather patterns
out Marine Heatwaves leading to death
changes Animals being eg Sydney
Ocean plants
swept away Octopus
and animals
from natural ending up in
can’t keep up
Marine life moving Changing habitats Tasmania
More acidic
to cooler, deeper migration Warmer Oceans
oceans warmer northern waters
waters patterns are too hot, too much
Faster current
temperature-
warm water mixes with
cold southern water
Negatively
impacts new
CAUSES
related habitat
reproductive
issues
Seawater Coastal Look at impact on humans to
Threatens
intrusion into ecosystems Rising Sea Levels OCEANS address apathy and create
wetlands
freshwaters threatened eg feminisation of impetus for action
green turtles.
Not understanding/
Gender is
Reduced reproduction rates believing the
eg Kakadu Coastal Erosion determined by
severity
temperature of
nest
Mangrove Flora Fauna
destruction
Threat to human resistance to
change

Biodiversity &
Habitat loss is major
factor for extinction EXTINCTION EFFECTS Ecosystems BARRIERS
government saving
money

from Rapid giving up current

Climate Change lifestyle transport

manufacturing of
people don't care goods
because they cant
see the current
effects of climate
HUMAN Retain more water & Nutrient dense Resists pests & change
Zoonotic
loss of pollinators Agricultural loss Impact of biodiversity Retains carbon minerals produce disease
loss on humans diseases
big money making
POLICñ
& companies e.g. oil
LAW and coal
Air & water Reduce Healthy/living SOLUTIONS
quality chemicals soils Lack of awareness
Tourism industry
losses Farming
captive
breeding Replanting
NATURE- COMMUNITñ
vegetation in Regeneration TECHNOLOÜ
BASED -BASED
mangroves ICAL

Rapid-growing Seaweed farms Parents

Australia’s
Schools
tourism industry translocation of Assisted
is largely nature- vulnerable species evolution Documentaries
based Convert CO2 to Awareness Education
oxygen Conservation Renewable energy Targeted Exhibitions
Sustainable
genetic actions for Manifestations
fishing practices
modification ecosystems
Building species Social media
GLOBAL WARMING/ resilience
Whale poo Smart homes Recycling
GREENHOUSE Reduce non-climatic Gene sequencing Conservation drones
EFFECT stressors eg pollution,
Protect native
wildlife areas techniques to save
Remote
monitoring of
to track and monitor
land-clearing etc species from incurable wild regions for any
wildlife
natural disasters
CLIMATE CHANGE Muriyira poo floats on When Muriyira whales eat diseases
INCREASED Positive Feedback loop ocean currents and grows
gardens of phytoplankton
Plankton, their poo helps
grow phytoplankton
Fire
management
CARBONÀ
Cli:ate Change & Biodiversity los"
IN THE are intricately linked. The solution t

Food for many Absorbs carbon

ATMOSPHERE
View larger map
Climate Change will be dependent on conserving
& restoring our ecosystems & biodiversity. ocean animals from
atmosphere
Buffer zones Cultural burning
ECOSYSTEM à around sensitive
BIODIVERSITY LOSS vegetaion/
habitats
REDUCTION IN
NATURAL CARBON
SINKS

Next: Stakeholder Map CYAN GROUP 07

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters SYSTEMS & STAKEHOLDERS > Stakeholder Map

STAKEHOLDER MAP

Public Stakeholders
Working on the stakeholder map as a team impacted
our understanding of the problem by helping us
visualise and solidify stakeholder positions within the External Stakeholders
complicated problem matrix and how they can be
integrated into the solution.
This map has enabled us to ensure all relevant
stakeholders are considered when designing a
solution. The exercise demonstrated the number
of diverse and complicated interests represented
in the threat posed by rapid climate change to our
Internal Stakeholders
ecosystems and biodiversity existence.

Customer/User

Next: Context Map CYAN GROUP 08

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM CONTEXT > Context Map

SYNTHESIS

CONTEXT MAP

The lotus diagram helped us to cluster

the subtopics for research, and identify
key areas for investigation.

Next: Primary Research CYAN GROUP 09

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM CONTEXT > Primary Research

PROBLEM CONTEXT

PRIMARY RESEARCH

We conducted a survey of 49 participants,

asking them a range of climate-change-related
questions.
User answers provided us with both qualitative
and quantitative research data to assist us with
contextualising the problem.

Climate Change Survey

Next: Primary Research Key Findings CYAN GROUP 10

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM CONTEXT > Primary Research

PRIMARY RESEARCH

KEY FINDINGS

51.1% are willing to pay more for locally sourced

items in their everyday lives

36.2% of people are very aware of the impact of

climate change on extinction

61.7% of people are willing to walk instead of

drive in their everyday lives to help fight climate
change

51% think climate change is critical/catastrophic in

urgency

Image Pexels
Next: Secondary Research Key Findings CYAN GROUP 11
 PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM CONTEXT > Primary Research

PRIMARY RESEARCH

KEY FINDINGS

WHAT DOES CLIMATE CHANGE

MEAN TO YOU?

“All our natural main resources are scarce by

now due to a raise in a global temperature.”

“The most urgent and major threat the planet

faces”

“Climate Change to me is the effects that

human beings are having on a complex
climate ecosystem”

“More frequent and severe natural disasters,

loss of crops and food security, spread of
diseases, displacement of populations, and
negative impacts on water and air quality.”

“Limited life sources”

“Catastrophic weather”

“The climate is changing because of the

impact humans are creating. We need to
Image Pexels

CHANGE what were currently doing to first

slow, hopefully then stop and reverse the
effects.”

Next: Secondary Research Key Findings CYAN GROUP 12

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM CONTEXT > Primary Research

PRIMARY RESEARCH

KEY FINDINGS

WHAT WOULD MOTIVATE YOU TO ACT

AGAINST RAPID CLIMATE CHANGE?

• ‘Knowing the things I can do to help’ “If media put more attention on climate change AND
• ‘Seeing the devastating and sometimes irreversible damage actionable steps we could do to help, I think myself and
caused by climate change’ others would be more likely to do stuff if we knew what to
do - if we’re told ‘if we all do x, we can change x by x
• ‘Meeting someone negatively impacted by climate change’
date’.”
• ‘Clear instructions as to how I can help’
• ‘Clear and unified approaches backed by rigorous scientific
opinion’
• ‘When you see the consequences of climate change for WHICH EFFECT OF CLIMATE CHANGE DO
yourself I feel a sense of urgency. Information and education YOU CONSIDER TO BE THE MOST URGENT?
motivate me to make a change’
• ‘Economic incentives!’
• ‘Food shortages in my area’
• ‘Seeing governments and corporations take it seriously’

Next: Secondary Research Key Findings CYAN GROUP 13

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM CONTEXT > Secondary Research

SECONDARY RESEARCH

KEY FINDINGS

BIODIVERSITY LOSS & RAPID CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate Change and biodiversity loss are two inextricably linked problems.
The effects of climate change (including extreme weather events, increased
droughts and flooding, altered migration patterns etc.) exacerbate the
decline of ecosystems and biodiversity contained within. At the same time,
ecosystem destruction leads to reduced natural carbon sequestering,
releasing increasing amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This
creates a positive feedback loop in which increased greenhouse gases from
loss of natural carbon stores contributes further to climate change.

IMPACT OF BIODIVERSITY LOSS ON HUMANS

The impact of rapid climate change on human health and livelihood is
significant and multifaceted. Changing weather patterns, increased global
temperatures, and rising sea levels all contribute to a loss of biodiversity
and an associated decline in human well-being. Basic human needs such
as food, clean water and shelter are threatened by droughts, ecosystem
destruction and extreme weather events.

Increased incidence of extreme weather events makes communities

more vulnerable to future disaster, financial hardship, and physical and
exacerbated mental health conditions. Scarcity of natural resources
(including food and clean water), climate-related human migration, and the
cumulative mental health effects of rapid climate change have the potential
to ignite civil, political and physical conflict.

Image Adobe Stock

Next: The 5 Whys CYAN GROUP 14

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM CONTEXT > Secondary Research

SECONDARY RESEARCH

KEY FINDINGS

HEALTH IMPACTS “Human health is strongly linked to

Nutrition & Ecosystem Services the health of ecosystems, which meet
Biodiversity is essential to the human food system. Both farmed
and wild species from the ocean and land directly provide food.
many of our most critical needs.”
Complex ecosystems provide indirect services necessary for food
production— nutrients for soil, water filtration and pollination. Natural Maria Neira, Director of WHO’s Department for the Protection
pest maintenance is reliant on insect-eating birds and bats, as well as of the Human Environment (WWF, n.d.)
microbial pathogens that control agricultural pest populations.

Increased risk of infectious disease.

Zoonotic Disease.
Animals who have lost their habitats are moving closer to humans
and livestock, increasing the risk of trans-species transmission of
disease and infection.
Increased risk of vector-borne disease.
Warmer temperatures and increased precipitation has caused
diseases typically only found in tropical regions to spread to new
geographic regions, as well as increasing the reproductive rate of
both pathogens and vectors. The transmission season for disease is
also extended by longer periods of warm weather.
Food-borne infections also increase with rising temperatures.
Re-emergence of ancient disease as ice and permafrost melts.
Permafrost harbours bacteria, viruses and fungi that can survive
after being frozen for hundreds and thousands of years (Boukerche
& Mohammed-Roberts, 2020). As rising temperatures from climate Image Adobe Stock
change cause ancient ice to melt, there is the risk of releasing ancient
diseases that our immune systems are not equipped for.

Next: The 5 Whys CYAN GROUP 15

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM CONTEXT > Secondary Research

SECONDARY RESEARCH

KEY FINDINGS

Migration & Disease

Migration-related disease as people migrate due to extreme weather
events. The World Bank predicts that by 2050 there will be more
than 140 million displaced people as a result of climate change.
(Boukerche & Mohammed-Roberts, 2020)

Loss of medicine supply and source of research.

The majority of modern pharmaceuticals are either derived from natural
products or have been discovered through research into plant and
micro-organism species. Biodiversity loss results in medicine resources
depleted, but also the opportunity to discover more treatments for
human illnesses in the future.

Respiratory Illness
Pollution, poor air-quality, proliferation of air-borne allergens during and
after severe weather events, and the introduction of alien species (due
to migration), all contribute to respiratory illness in humans.

Mental health effects of Climate Change

Immediate effects of climate change on mental health often result from
extreme weather events, as people experience shock, trauma, post-
traumatic stress, anxiety and depression.

Concern about rapid climate change and fear for the future has also
increased rates of anxiety, especially among younger people. This “eco-
anxiety” has been associated with increased rates of suicidal ideation
and substance abuse (American Psychological Association, 2021).

Image Unsplash

Next: The 5 Whys CYAN GROUP 16

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM CONTEXT > Secondary Research

SECONDARY RESEARCH

KEY FINDINGS
ECONOMIC IMPACTS
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) estimates the economic value of ecosystem
services (for instance, carbon sequestering and environmental stability, cultural
and recreational functions, habitat services, and provision of food, natural
resources, and medicines) to be greater than US $150 trillion. (Boston Consulting
Group, 2021, p. 7)

Tourism
Australia’s tourism industry is heavily dependent on the health of our natural
environments. On a larger scale, coral reefs alone are responsible for USD 36
billion per year for the global tourism industry (OECD, 2019).

Agriculture
Global food crops are reliant on pollinators, such as bees and bats, for
productive yields. The loss of biodiversity poses a serious threat to food
production, variety, and the livelihoods of millions of people who derive their
living from agriculture.

Furthermore, the resilience of crops and livestock decreases as their genetic

variability does. Genetic diversity reduces the vulnerability of livestock and
crop to changing environmental conditions.

Terrestrial ecosystems
A changing climate can alter the distribution and interaction of species, migration
patterns, ecosystem composition and food webs (EPA, n.d). In order to survive,
animals must adapt quickly to the effects of rapid climate change, including the
permanent destruction of valuable natural habitats. Bushfires, rising sea levels,
droughts and deforestation are just a few instances of Terrestrial ecosystem
disruption. Animals lack sufficient time for biological adaptation to these changes,
Image Adobe Stock and are forced to migrate to more distant regions with habitable climates. Many
are unable to survive the journey itself.

Next: The 5 Whys CYAN GROUP 17

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM CONTEXT > Secondary Research

SECONDARY RESEARCH

KEY FINDINGS

Marine Ecosystems
Climate change has had a significant impact on the ocean and its marine
ecosystems. The ocean is the planet’s greatest carbon sink, absorbing
about 90 percent of the heat and energy generated by rising greenhouse
gas emissions trapped in the Earth’s system (UN, 2022). As a result of
rising greenhouse gas emissions, marine ecosystems are impacted greatly,
including sea-level rise, marine heat-waves and ocean acidification. These
impacts are increasing the risk of irreversible loss of marine ecosystems.
According to estimates from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization “more than half of the world’s marine species may stand on
the brink of extinction by 2100 if temperatures continue to increase” (UN,
2022).

Wetlands/Mangrove Loss
Wetlands are highly vulnerable to climate change. Due to increased
temperatures and more frequent or intense weather events, wetlands
such as mangroves, coral reefs, swamps and inland freshwater wetlands
are being damaged. Wetlands are especially important as they are some
of the largest carbon reservoirs on earth. They store carbon which in turn
reduces the greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Another reason why it
is so important to protect wetlands is because they provide protection for
land from hazards such as flooding, storm surges and coastal inundation.
(Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, n.d.).

Technological and Community Solutions

Awareness plays a huge part in bringing about change. For example,
recycling in communities is a normal part of everyday life in today’s
average Australian household. Through use of regularly collected recycling Image Adobe Stock

Next: The 5 Whys CYAN GROUP 18

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM CONTEXT > Secondary Research

SECONDARY RESEARCH

KEY FINDINGS

bins, recycle waste bins in public, and general understanding

about the benefits of recycling plastic, recycling has become
routine practice. This demonstrates that community awareness
of sustainability issues and underlying factors contribute to
people’s willingness to change their behaviour.

Nature-based solutions
Nature-based solutions are at their core, about boosting the
resilience of natural ecosystems, biodiversity and human well-
being through the power of nature. These solutions vary from
fire management to conservation, rising temperature control to
regeneration and more. The common thing about all of them,
is the broad range of actions that need to be taken in order to
sustainably protect, restore and manage different natural and
urban areas harmed by climate change (WWF, n.d).

Barriers to Change
There are many barriers to people acting on climate change.
Resistance to change is a huge issue. People don’t want to
give up modern luxuries such as air conditioning, cars, fast
fashion etc. There is the issue of money to consider. Research
shows that the main reason people won’t change to more
environmentally friendly options is cost—it is out of financial
reach. The third major barrier is people just not caring because it
doesn’t affect them directly now or in the immediate future. This
view is more common in older generations or people in places
which haven’t been affected by the changes yet.
Image Freepik

Next: The 5 Whys CYAN GROUP 19

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM CONTEXT > Secondary Research

SECONDARY RESEARCH

KEY FINDINGS

Government & Policy (Global & Domestic)

The government must contribute to improving our knowledge. Information on
climate change and information on technical adaptation measures are typical
public goods: the cost to generate the information must be incurred once, while
the information can be used without additional costs. However, it must also
provide the framework for insurance markets. The economic consequences of
natural disasters can be cushioned through insurance markets (Konrad & Thum,
2014). All this is regulated through policy, regulation and taxes.

State of the Climate Report (Australia)

Australia has committed to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. Australia
has agreed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 43% below 2005 levels
by 2030. This emissions plan will be made possible through improvements
to Australia’s electricity grid; reducing the price of electric vehicles;
supporting businesses to innovate and adopt smarter practices and
technologies; encouraging businesses and consumers to reduce emissions;
helping the land and agriculture sector reduce greenhouse gas emissions;
and helping to negotiate and meet the obligations of the Paris Agreement
(Australian Office of Financial Management, 2022.)

Paris Agreement
The international agreement commits almost every country in the world
to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in an effort to curb the dangerous
effects of climate change. The Paris Agreement aims to prevent global
temperatures from exceeding the pre-Industrial Revolution temperatures
by 2˚C (Global targets for temperature increase). This agreement is entirely
voluntary, meaning that although the agreement requires each country to
Image Adobe Stock
submit an NDC plan, there are no stipulations on how and by how much
countries must reduce emissions. Countries’ plans can differ significantly,

Next: The 5 Whys CYAN GROUP 20

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM CONTEXT > Secondary Research

SECONDARY RESEARCH

KEY FINDINGS

varying in specific targets, levels of ambition and even how emission

cuts are measured. (World101, n.d.)

UN sustainable development action plan

A climate action plan is a framework document for measuring,
tracking, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adopting
climate adaptation measures. These documents are used as a
framework to guide administrative bodies in addressing the impact of
climate change in their communities. Climate action plans typically
include targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and detailed
steps for meeting and tracking those targets. Plans may also include
elements such as resilience strategies and clean energy targets
(ClimateCheck, n.d.).

Influence of powerful industry lobbies

It is often a neglected topic, but powerful corporations continue to fight
policies that would make it harder to sell fossil fuels. In many cases,
oil and gas companies try to change public perception using the same
messages with which they lobby politicians. This includes portraying
themselves to the public as part of a solution to climate change, rather
than a cause, and highlighting their investments in clean energy while
funnelling far more money into dirtier fuels. Advertising becomes
important because it socialises these concepts before you even reach
the policymakers. Experts say it fits a broader trend, though it is hard to
quantify exactly how much of an impact lobbying has had in slowing
climate action.

Image Pexels
Next: The 5 Whys CYAN GROUP 21
PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM REFRAMING > The 5 Whys

PROBLEM REFRAMING

THE 5 WHYS

Marine ecosystem loss Impact on humans

PROBLEM: PROBLEM:
Coral reefs are dying Increase in zoonotic diseases

Why? Why?
They are experiencing increasing bleaching events Animals and humans are in increasingly closer contact

Why? Why?
Water chemistry is becoming more acidic, leading to Animals are migrating nearer to human populated areas
bleaching
Why?
Why? Their previous habitats have become untenable
Increasing temperatures have changed the water’s pH
levels Why?
Drastically altered ecosystems, natural disasters, too high
Why? temperatures
Global temperatures have risen significantly, causing
marine heat-waves Why?

Why? Rapid Climate Change in the past few years

Excessive greenhouse gas emissions have caused heat to

be trapped in the Earth’s atmosphere

Next: Insights CYAN GROUP 22

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM REFRAMING > The 5 Whys

PROBLEM REFRAMING

THE 5 WHYS

Marine Ecosystems & Wetlands/ Nature-Based Solutions

Mangrove loss
Rapid climate change needs to be halted and
Marine ecosystems are being damaged due reversed
to increasing temperatures from increasing
greenhouse gas emissions Why?
If nature is being affected by climate change, it should be
fixed
Why?
Impact of climate change is increasing the risk of Why?
irreversible loss of marine ecosystems The distortion of climate change is the cause for the
massive chain reaction we are experiencing now, and will
Why? keep experience in the future
More than half of the world’s marine species may stand on
the brink of extinction by 2100 Why?
What we do, and the way we use nature for our own good
Why? is the base of the climate change problem
Wetlands support 125,000 freshwater species
Why?
Why? Humans depends on natural resources and the use of it as
Wetlands store 30% more carbon than other vegetation a part of their lifestyle and daily routine

Why? Why?

Wetlands are the planets greatest carbon sink Companies can make more money, individuals doesn’t
care/not aware of the effects they cause to nature

Next: Insights CYAN GROUP 23

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM REFRAMING > The 5 Whys

PROBLEM REFRAMING

THE 5 WHYS

Natural habitat distortion Government & policy

Destruction of ecosystems and natural habitats Global responses to the Climate Crisis are
inconsistent
Why?
The climate is changing faster than nature is able to adapt Why?
It is difficult to fight climate change at a global level
Why? regarding policy
Humans are abusing its natural resources, and polluting it
Why?
Why? The cooperation and the goals between the nations on
They depend on natural resources and the use of it as a the climate problem is difficult to achieve
part of their lifestyle and daily routine
Why?
Why? Every nation has his own policy and different response
Companies can make more money, individuals doesn’t times
care/not aware of the effects they cause to nature
Why?
Why? Countries need to consider their domestic economy and
how private companies may react to the policies applied
The government has not set any regulations or laws
regarding the use, access or importation of these Why?
materials.
Concerned about local lobbyists and political interests

Next: Insights CYAN GROUP 24

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM REFRAMING > The 5 Whys

PROBLEM REFRAMING

THE 5 WHYS

Barriers to change

Rapid climate change is still happening

Why?
People aren’t changing their lifestyle and/or habits to help
the environment

Why?
People don’t care about how catastrophic rapid global
warming is

Why?
The most devastating effects predicted to happen are not
like to happen during their life time, therefore they don’t
see it as a problem

Why?
Because it is not something that they see as affecting
them directly and are more sceptical/in denial

Why?

Because they don’t recognize the climate crisis as an

immediate threat/priority.

Image Adobe Stock

Next: Insights CYAN GROUP 25

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters PROBLEM REFRAMING > Key Insights

DEFINE

KEY INSIGHTS

Our key insights are derived from both primary and secondary • Experiencing direct effects of climate change
research, as well as 5 Why Questions. e.g. extreme weather events
• An action plan for tackling the problem
• A sense of urgency- immediacy of the issue
• Our target audience is broad • Financial incentives/economic incentive to act
• People relate climate change to increase of extreme • People suggest the ultimate solution to climate change
weather conditions e.g. drought, flood is:
• Temperature rise from increase of greenhouse gasses is • Locally produced food
commonly thought of as the cause of Climate Change. • Buy less, buy local
• People relate climate change to death, anxiety and • Eradicating forced obsolescence
uncertainty for the future • Collective, unified global effort
• Most people attribute the main cause of Rapid Climate • Cut greenhouse gas emissions
Change as humans drastically and immediately
• Most people believe that the most urgent effect of climate • Many people responded that they had no
change is Destruction of ecosystems/habitats idea what the solution could be
• Majority of people consider the problem of climate change • The main barriers to acting on climate
to be Critical/Catastrophic in urgency change are:
• Common things people are doing in their day to day life to • Ignorance
fight climate change include: • Apathy
• Recycling & reusing • Uneducated
• Sustainable purchasing decisions/Ethical buying • Money
• Consume less (transport, food, goods, energy) • Lifestyle
• Many people would be motivated by the following to take • Selfishness/Greed
action against climate change: • Government policy Image Adobe Stock

• Government intervention (incentives/legislation)

Next: How might we? questions CYAN GROUP 26

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters
DEFINE
HOW MIGHT WE? QUESTIONS
We used the insights gained from analysing the findings of our research
into rapid climate change to generate as many relevant ‘How Might We?’
Questions as possible. We then categorised each question as ‘too narrow’,
‘just right’, and ‘too wide’, before making our final selection.
TOO NARROW
• How might we use people’s awareness of climate change urgency
to galvanise them to action rather than give up in despair?
• How might we maximise climate action as part of our daily
routine?
• How might we demonstrate the catastrophic effects of rapid
climate change to people who believe they are personally
unaffected?
• How might we provide financial incentives to adopt sustainable
practices?
• How might we make buying local the predominant way to shop?
• How might we open the eyes of those who are refusing to see the
problem or the need for immediate action?
• How might we make human societies less individual-focused and
more concerned about the good of the many?
• How might we improve access to clean water, air and soil for
people living in areas affected by climate change and biodiversity
loss?
• How might we incentivize large corporations to reduce their
carbon footprint and adopt eco-friendly practices?
Next: Synthesis
SYNTHESIS > How Might We? Questions
TOO WIDE
• How might we create a solution to climate-based
Biodiversity loss that appeals to the broad audience of
humankind?
• How might we reduce greenhouse gas emissions to
limit the decline of ecosystems and biodiversity?
• How might we reverse the negative impact of human
activity on climate-related biodiversity loss?
• How might we reduce anxiety and uncertainty of the
future?
• How might we reduce the loss of biodiversity from the
effects of Rapid Climate Change?
• How might we encourage people to change their bad
habits?
• How might we increase people’s awareness of climate
change?
• How might we motivate people to take action on
climate change?
CYAN GROUP 27
PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters
DEFINE
HOW MIGHT WE? QUESTIONS
JUST RIGHT
• How might we create a sustainable
solution to climate-related biodiversity
loss?
• How might we encourage the protection
of endangered species through
community engagement and education
programs?
• How might we create an urgent climate
crisis solution that is effective and
achievable?
• How might we create a way to help
encourage and educate people on ways
they can take further action in their
everyday lives?
• How might we develop new ways people
can integrate climate action into their
daily lives?
• How might we encourage protection of
wetlands in Australia?
• How might we restore declining
ecosystems to increase biodiversity and
ecosystem services necessary for human
life?
Next: Synthesis
SYNTHESIS > How Might We? Questions
• How might we prepare vulnerable
communities for extreme weather
events?
• How might we convince those who are
reluctant to believe in Rapid Climate
Change and its effects?
• How might we inspire individuals to
become ambassadors for Climate Action
and Biodiversity Loss prevention?
• How might we encourage people to
change things in their everyday life to
fight climate change?
• How might we provide people with
achievable, immediate actions to take
against Climate change and biodiversity
loss?
• How might we increase awareness of the
non-weather-related effects of climate
change such as Biodiversity loss?
• How might we harness eco-anxiety to
motivate people to take urgent action
against rapid climate change and
biodiversity loss?
CYAN GROUP
• How might we encourage people to
prioritize Climate Action as an urgent/
critical problem for humanity?
• How might we inspire individuals to take
climate action in a positive manner?
• How might we unite governments
globally to act collectively against rapid
climate change?
• How might we reverse the trend of “fast”
consumer goods?
• How might we encourage less disposable
purchases?
• How might we eliminate unsustainable
consumption patterns?
• How might we persuade the general
public to value more sustainably-sourced
products?
• How might we educate people on the
long-term economic benefits of climate
action?
Continued »
28
PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters
DEFINE
HOW MIGHT WE? QUESTIONS
JUST RIGHT continued
• How might we protect/conserve/restore
ecosystems that are declining due to Rapid
Climate Change effects?
• How might we engage governments to create
policy that will support the Climate action
agenda?
• How might we contain the spread of infectious
diseases resulting from biodiversity loss?
• How might we prevent further loss of
biodiversity resources valuable for medical
research?
• How might we prevent the homogenisation of
crops and livestock species in agriculture?
• How might we ensure adequate supply of fresh
water in the face of increasing droughts?
• How might we reduce the impact of climate
change on marine ecosystems?
• How might we prevent the risk of irreversible
loss of marine ecosystems?
Image Pexels
Next: Synthesis CYAN GROUP
SYNTHESIS > How Might We? Questions
• How might we create sustainable and resilient
ecosystems that can adapt to the impacts of
rapid climate change?
• How might we create a rapid climate change
solution that is financially viable?
• How might we promote the restoration of
degraded habitats to increase biodiversity and
support ecosystem services?
• How might we develop more efficient and
effective technology solutions to mitigate
climate change and biodiversity loss?
• How might we encourage individuals to alter
their behaviour in ways that help mitigate rapid
climate change and biodiversity loss?
• How might we leverage technology to monitor
and track changes in biodiversity loss?
29
PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters SYNTHESIS > Defining the Problem

DEFINE

SYNTHESIS

WHAT is the problem? What is feasible?

The effects of rapid climate change threaten ecosystems, • Educating the general public on the reality of rapid climate change and it’s
biodiversities, and even human survival. effects.
• Encouraging the general public to take immediate steps to help fight climate
WHY is it happening? change
Greenhouse gas emissions, predominantly from human • Government intervention
activities, have caused the Earth’s temperature to significantly
increase in recent decades. Global temperatures continue to • Adaptation measures.
rise at an untenable rate as humans have failed to curtail harmful • Mitigation strategies, including restoring and protecting existing ecosystems.
emissions in the atmosphere. Research has shown that this is the
result of:
• People are uncertain as to what steps are most important to
fight climate change.
• People are apathetic about taking action because they can’t
see how climate change will directly affect them.

WHO is the audience?

Our target audience is broad, encompassing all of humanity. Our
primary focus is the general public.

WHAT matters most?

Immediate action to halt and reverse the increasing global
temperature.

Which should we act on first?

Image Unsplash
Motivating the general public to act.

Next: Challenge Statement CYAN GROUP 30

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters DEFINITION > Challenge Statement

CHALLENGE STATEMENT

How might we motivate the general

public to incorporate climate change
mitigation into their daily lives?

Image Adobe Stock

Next: Challenge Statement Process CYAN GROUP 31

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters DEFINITION > Challenge Statement Process

CHALLENGE STATEMENT PROCESS

user

How might we
motivate the general public to
incorporate climate change mitigation into their daily lives?

verb insight

We used the insights we gained through our primary and secondary research to
reframe the problem of rapid climate change. Initially we considered biodiversity
loss (consequent of rapid climate change) as a focus area for our project.
However, the non-linear structure of design-thinking methodology allowed us to
step backwards and look at the wider problem again.
After examining our key findings and insights, our group determined that the core
issue for both climate-related biodiversity loss and the climate crisis as a whole
were fundamentally the same. Our challenge lies in creating an urgent behavioural
change in the general public, which is necessary to halt and reverse the earth’s
rate of warming.
Image Adobe Stock

Next: Next Steps CYAN GROUP 32

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters REFLECTION > Next Steps

NEXT STEPS

As a group, we engaged a number of different design thinking

strategies to assist with problem research and synthesis. Tools
such as systems, context and stakeholder maps allowed us
to identify relevant elements and cluster key information. The
group nature of these tasks facilitated our varied backgrounds
and opinions to give us the widest possible scope for analysing
the problem. These tools also provided the framework for our
human-centred approach to solving our chosen problem.

Now that we have synthesised our key findings and developed

our challenge statement, we will commence brainstorming
methods to explore all potential solutions, including far-
reaching and unlikely. We can then consider the most viable
solutions, and use prototyping to assess their effectiveness and
usability as a resolution to our challenge statement.

Image Adobe Stock

Next: References CYAN GROUP 33

PBL 202 / A1: Testing the Waters REFERENCES

REFERENCES
American Psychological Association. (2021, November 4). Urgent need to address mental health effects of climate change, says report. https://www.apa.org/news/
press/releases/2021/11/mental-health-effects-climate-change

Australian Office of Financial Management. (2022.). Australian government climate change commitments, policies and programs. https://www.aofm.gov.au/sites/
default/files/2022-11-28/Aust%20Govt%20CC%20Actions%20Update%20November%202022_1.pdf

Boston Consulting Group. (2021). The biodiversity crisis is a business crisis. https://web-assets.bcg.com/fb/5e/74af5531468e9c1d4dd5c9fc0bd7/bcg-the-
biodiversity-crisis-is-a-business-crisis-mar-2021-rr.pdf

Boukerche, S., & Mohammed-Roberts, R. (2020, May 19). Fighting infectious diseases: The connection to climate change. World Bank. https://blogs.worldbank.org/
climatechange/fighting-infectious-diseases-connection-climate-change

Climate Check (n.d.). What is a Climate Action Plan? https://climatecheck.com/risks/mitigation/what-is-a-climate-action-plan

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. (n.d.). The vulnerability of Australia’s biodiversity to climate change. https://www.dcceew.gov.au/
sites/default/files/documents/vulnerability-overview.pdf

Environmental Protection Agency. (2016, December 22). Climate impacts on ecosystems. https://19january2017snapshot.epa.gov/climate-impacts/climate-impacts-
ecosystems_.html#:~:text=Climate%20change%20can%20alter%20where,wildfires%2C%20floods%2C%20and%20drought.

Konrad, K. & Thum, M. (2014, July 24). What is the role of governments in climate change adaptation? OUPblog. https://blog.oup.com/2014/07/government-
adaptation-climate-change/

OECD. (2019, May 5). Biodiversity: Finance and the economic and business case for action. OECD. https://www.oecd.org/environment/resources/biodiversity/G7-
report-Biodiversity-Finance-and-the-Economic-and-Business-Case-for-Action.pdf

United Nations. (n.d.). How is climate change impacting the world’s Ocean. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/ocean-
impacts#:~:text=At%20a%201.1%C2%B0C,a%20point%20of%20no%20return

World101. (n.d.). The Paris Agreement. https://world101.cfr.org/global-era-issues/climate-change/paris-agreement

World Wide Fund for Nature. (n.d.). “I understand there may be a biodiversity crisis, but how does that affect me?”. https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/
biodiversity/biodiversity_and_you/

World Wide Fund for Nature. (n.d.). Nature-based solutions. https://wwf.panda.org/discover/our_focus/climate_and_energy_practice/what_we_do/nature_based_

solutions_for_climate/

Next: Assessment 2 CYAN GROUP 34