Exploring role-playing as a tool for involving citizens in air pollution mitigation urban policies

Southern Chile faces severe air pollution due to widespread wood-burning for heating, particularly affecting vulnerable populations who lack affordable energy alternatives. Despite Atmospheric Decontamination Plans (ADPs) including measures like stove replacement, fuel improvement, home refurbishment, and burning restrictions, air quality remains poor, exceeding WHO recommendations. Universalist policies often fail due to public heterogeneity, leading to inefficient results and non-compliance. Citizen involvement is crucial for policy legitimacy and effectiveness, but active participation doesn't always occur naturally. Existing ADPs often prioritize technical solutions, neglecting local knowledge and socio-economic conditions. This study utilizes role-playing, a method proven effective in eliciting alternative perspectives and future scenarios, to analyze public deliberation on air pollution mitigation strategies in southern Chile. The aim is to assess public perceptions of ADP measures and evaluate role-playing's potential to enhance citizen engagement in local energy transitions and inform policymaking.

The challenges of designing effective environmental policies that cater to diverse public needs are highlighted by Poortinga and Darnton (2016). Universalist approaches often prove inefficient (McKenzie-Mohr, 2011; Campbell and Corley, 2015). Studies in southern Chile underscore the collective nature of air pollution challenges (Vallejos-Romero and Oñate-Nancucheo, 2013; Boso et al., 2020a; 2020b), where individual responses are constrained by energy poverty. The need for citizen involvement in environmental governance is emphasized, focusing on improving ADP legitimacy and effectiveness, and bridging the knowledge gap between policymakers and the public (Yearley et al., 2003; Dietz and Stern, 2008; Kasymova and Gaynor, 2014). Role-playing, derived from sociodrama, is presented as a valuable method for engaging the public in policy planning, particularly in addressing complex environmental problems and fostering citizen involvement in public governance (Thomas et al., 2018; Broska et al., 2022; Stirling, 2010).

This study involved residents from six mid-sized cities in southern Chile, selected to represent diverse demographic characteristics and pollution levels (Fig. 1, Table 1). A role-playing exercise was used, where participants acted as advisors on a fictional city's air pollution crisis committee. The four-step process involved: (1) a sociodemographic survey; (2) presentation of a hypothetical scenario and six policy options (prohibition of wood stoves, electricity promotion, district heating, refurbishment subsidies, firewood/stove subsidies, gas subsidies); (3) individual ranking of options; and (4) group deliberation and consensus building (Fig. 2). Data included individual rankings and transcribed group discussions. Thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke, 2006; Graneheim and Lundman, 2004) was used to analyze the qualitative data. 46 participants (65% women) were involved, reflecting diverse socio-economic backgrounds and heating practices. Participants were informed about the study and provided informed consent.

Participants' individual preferences varied significantly (Fig. 3), with thermal refurbishment most preferred, followed by electricity, gas subsidies, and pellet stove replacement. District heating and firewood subsidies were least favored. Preferences varied across cities (Fig. 4). Group discussions revealed strong consensus around thermal refurbishment, emphasizing its cost-effectiveness, particularly for vulnerable families. However, concerns about cost and implementation time were also raised. Electrification of heating systems was met with mixed reactions, influenced by local context and perceptions of renewable energy sources. While valued for convenience, concerns about infrastructure costs, energy security, and potential conflicts were expressed. Gas subsidies, while shown effective in Punta Arenas, were criticized for high costs, energy insecurity, and potential for misuse. Replacing wood-burning stoves with pellet stoves was seen as culturally acceptable, but banning firewood sparked significant debate, highlighting cultural and economic barriers. District heating was largely unfamiliar and viewed as expensive and difficult to implement. Firewood subsidies were seen as ineffective in addressing the root cause of pollution. The need for addressing energy insecurity was consistently highlighted.

The role-playing exercise effectively promoted critical thinking and collaborative problem-solving, highlighting energy insecurity as a central concern. Participants emphasized thermal comfort and clean air as fundamental human rights, advocating for energy efficiency improvements and access to alternative heating sources. The study revealed "hidden energy vulnerability," where households experience energy deprivation despite not meeting formal energy poverty criteria. This approach complements existing literature on energy poverty, emphasizing the importance of considering thermal comfort and the interconnectedness of energy access and air pollution. While the exercise itself cannot solve air pollution, it provides valuable insights to policymakers for designing more effective and equitable interventions.

Role-playing games offer a valuable tool for engaging citizens, academics, and policymakers in addressing complex air pollution challenges. This method fosters critical thinking, clarifies priorities, and increases the legitimacy and effectiveness of pollution mitigation plans. Further research should explore the scalability and adaptability of this approach in diverse contexts and involve additional stakeholders.

This study, being the first to use role-playing games for air quality management in firewood-dominated cities, has limitations. The role-playing exercise is a simplified representation of reality, offering initial insights but not final decision-making. Future studies should aim for more homogeneous participant groups within and heterogeneous groups between sessions to improve data quality and analysis. The exploratory nature of this study prevents the establishment of causal relationships.