The Landscape Scenario & Virtual Reality

Making the Future Tangible

Climate scenarios often remain abstract, making it difficult for people to understand their real implications.
Through the combination of participatory workshops, the CO2 PACMAN Tool, and immersive Virtual Reality experiences, the Labs turn data into tangible futures that participants can explore and discuss together.

By enabling informed discussion and shared decision making, the Labs help transform climate strategies into collective commitments, increasing their long term effectiveness and social acceptance.

The Landscape Scenario and its Virtual Reality (VR) component translate spatial data, land-use analysis, and renewable energy insights into accessible, visual narratives that help communities understand what a climate-neutral island could look like.

This activity combines land suitability assessments, Renewable Energy Technologies (RET) siting, and participatory exploration into a single visual framework. The VR simulations allow users to experience potential renewable energy installations directly within recreated island landscapes.

Objectives

• Make Spatial Data Understandable - Transform complex territorial analyses into clear visual narratives that support public dialogue.

• Identify Suitable Areas for Renewable Energy - Use multi-criteria spatial analysis to explore where RETs can be deployed while respecting environmental, cultural, and landscape values.

• Reduce Perceived Risks and Not In My Back Yard (NIMBY) Reactions - Allow users to “see” renewable installations in context, increasing understanding and acceptance.

 Why It Matters

Planning renewable energy on islands is not only a technical challenge, but also a social and spatial one. Decisions about where and how to deploy renewable solutions often generate uncertainty and resistance when impacts are difficult to imagine.

By turning data into immersive visual experiences, the Landscape Scenario and its Virtual Reality component help bridge the gap between analysis and perception. They make future scenarios tangible, support informed dialogue, and foster shared understanding among citizens, stakeholders, and decision makers.

This approach increases transparency, builds trust, and supports more socially accepted, place sensitive pathways toward climate neutrality.