Gamified learning: Nudging young people through the ‘My Sustainable Lifestyles Challenge’

The world’s population is projected to reach a whopping 10 billion by 2050 and if we continue to live with our current consumption rate, we might need the resources of three earths to sustain us (UNEP).  Current trends highlight the urgent need to shift our consumption patterns, and sustainable lifestyles play crucial roles in this transformation. Youth, who represent the largest demographic today with nearly 42% of our global population, are critical to this transformation.

However, promoting sustainable lifestyles is no easy feat. While many young people are aware and increasingly active in sustainable development issues, translating that awareness into meaningful action requires intentional strategies. Simply knowing about environmental issues doesn’t automatically translate into action. We are creatures of habit, often resistant to change even when we know that it is necessary.

Bridging knowledge and action: What is  ‘My Sustainable Lifestyles Challenge’?

So how do we bridge the gap between awareness and action? The demand for a strategic, engaging way to foster behavioural change towards sustainable lifestyles led to the creation of the “My Sustainable Lifestyles Challenge” (MSLC), an online gamified learning platform designed to inspire behaviour change through engaging and actionable commitments. Developed by UNSSC and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Global Opportunities for Sustainable Development Goals (GO4SDGs), it is based on five lifestyle areas identified by the Anatomy of Action (AoA): the food we eat, how we live, how we move, the stuff we buy and the things we do for fun.

Participants take on six challenges on everyday life decisions, all while earning points, competing in teams, and unlocking the crown of the sustainable lifestyles champion. MSLC helps bridge the knowledge-to-action gap by sharing actionable content that inspires participants to connect with their peers and practice sustainable lifestyles. They do not just learn about the pressing issues of climate change or resource conservation; they act, motivated by a points system, team competition, or personal achievements that reinforce sustainable behaviour in a real-world context.  MSLC is designed with gamification at its core and is hosted on a platform built by the 2B Collective. In three years, MSLC has engaged more than 3,000 participants, all taking up the challenge and becoming advocates for sustainable lifestyles.

The power of gamified learning

So, what sets gamification apart? By tapping into elements of competition, rewards, and achievement, an otherwise passive educational experience becomes an active, participatory one.

 MSLC offers an engaging, human-centered approach to learning that enhances the participants’ sense of agency and their ability to contribute to a shared solution. MSLC embodies a forward-thinking approach that aligns with the global youth agenda.

 This kind of learning experience is transformative because it humanizes the journey toward sustainable living. The challenge mode ensures that participants not only understand the importance of sustainable actions but are motivated to implement them in their daily lives. It is acknowledging the barriers to change while offering a solution that makes sustainability not just a goal, but an enjoyable, communal experience.

“These challenges have taught me that a meaningful life is a mindful life which means being aware of our options, conscious about our choices, and critically evaluative of our actions. The My Sustainable Lifestyle Challenge has taught me how easy and simple it can be to be environmentally mindful.” — Krisha Karippail, MSLC 2024 Participant Testimony

The power of social media

Young people are the most active demographic on social media and are deeply engaged in digital interactions. Recognizing the relevance of digital interaction to youth, we carefully developed a social media plan with campaign content in English, French, Russian, and Spanish aimed at maximizing reach and impact among young people engaging in the game. This strategy resonated with the theme for Youth Day 2024, 'Youth Digital Pathways for Sustainable Development', underscored the critical role of young individuals in leveraging technology for advancing sustainable development goals.  

Our approach was multifaceted. Participants were encouraged to submit videos and creative projects related to the MSLC themes. The UNSSC Instagram account became a stage for their voices and creativity, with our team actively reposting their contributions and continuing the momentum of the challenge.

Each week highlighted a new sustainable lifestyles champion team, celebrating their contributions and inspiring others. The response was vibrant and diverse, ranging from eye-catching photographs from India to expressive dance videos by young people from Kazakhstan to insightful narratives on food waste from Congo.

On Instagram, we reached nearly 6000 people, while our LinkedIn efforts saw over 11000 people reached, with an impressive 11% average engagement rate. Particularly, the announcement posts of our weekly champions in Russian and Spanish resonated deeply, indicating the successful inclusion of non-English speaking audiences, which is an often-underserved audience.

We learned invaluable lessons about the power of giving space to young people and letting them do what they do best - use digital storytelling to convey key messages.

From action to movement

Young people are critical agents of positive change and the driving force behind shaping a sustainable future. By gamifying sustainability education, we can ensure that young people don’t just receive information about sustainable practices but learn how to live them. By amplifying their voices and giving them the space to express themselves, they become the sustainable lifestyles champions the world needs.

Together, through empowered learning and meaningful action, we can transform sustainable lifestyles from a choice into a movement.