Fight for The Planet: Game studios are starting to take climate seriously
Unsplash/Florian Olivo online game
According to an annual report just released by the United Nations Environment Programme, more than 32 game studios have now joined the agency's promoted Playing for the Planet Alliance, planting more than 1 million trees and attracting 130 million gamers to focus on environment-related topics. The report showcases the progress the gaming industry has made in decarbonizing and raising awareness of green, as well as where it is headed next.
In 2021, The Green Game Jam, which brings together big names in video games such as personal computers, mobile phones and consoles to teach and drive millions of players to take action to protect nature, tripled in size, with 30 studios joining, planting 266,000 trees, raising $800,000, and attracting about 130 million players to discuss ocean and forest issues, supporting the report. The United Nations Cooperation Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries and the United Nations Decade for Ecosystem Restoration, 80 per cent of whom responded positively to these themes.
Success
In addition, 60% of the "Fight for the Planet" members have committed to achieving net zero/negative carbon emissions by 2030 and set targets for 2022; 7 new studios will join in 2021, bringing the alliance to 32 members, with a total of players well exceeding 1 billion, with the support of TiMi Studio, launched a new "Young Green Game Jam", supported by more than 300 university students.
Sam Barratt, UNEP's head of youth, education and advocacy, said: "The video game industry is a new ally in the race for a planet that is net zero and good for nature. The work done by the 'Fight for planet' alliance in 2021 is impressive and shows what can be possible when collaborative tools replace competitive thinking. While much remains to be done, the initiative has come a long way in just two years. ”
UN Photo/Elizabeth Scaffidi A girl plays video games on her phone.
The impact expands
In addition to progress within the alliance, the work has inspired the music industry's major labels to launch their own Music Climate Pact in December 2021, and has seen new baseline data on the energy consumption used by mobile devices in games, updating figures from 10 years ago so studios can more accurately calculate their carbon footprint.
The report also outlines the direction the alliance plans to take in 2022, which will see a new white paper outlining guidelines on how the industry can reduce emissions. The theme of the 2022 "Green Game Gathering" will be forests, food and the future. The goal of the gathering is to surpass the number of previous participants and expand the reach and impact of the program – more than 36 studios have already signed up, with more to come in the coming weeks.
This annual report is primarily designed as an accountability mechanism for transparency and progress. Members who do not fulfill their commitments will be removed from the Alliance.
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