Debate features

As noted in the description of how plans are developed, a key prerequisite for a plan is that there be a model available within the system to simulate the projected impacts of a set of proposed actions.

But members of the Collaboratorium Community can also consider other issues related to climate change within the system. Specifically, they can use the system's “Debate” functionality to discuss issues where:

• No models of the relevant type currently exist in the system,

• The topic does not lend itself to modeling (for example, issues that primarily involve ethical judgments, as opposed to the workings of physical or social systems, are inherently not model-able).

Debate process

In such cases, a topic can be raised and considered through a four step process:

Raising an issue
A new issue can be raised by a community member within the debate. Issues take the form of important questions for which several possible positions can be proposed.

Defining positions
For each issue, members of the community can propose potential positions.

Debating pros and cons of positions
For each position on an issue, members of the community can propose arguments for (pros) and arguments against (cons).

Voting on positions and arguments
Members of the community can vote for the positions they believe are best. They can also vote for or against the arguments associated with positions.

Return to How the Collaboratorium works