Several gaming industry members and climate organizations have realized that video games could be used for education.
This shows that video games could potentially help deal with the climate change crisis and promote climate action.
Video Games and the Climate Crisis
When it comes to sustainability, video games may not be the best. In fact, according to a 2019 study, video games have a carbon footprint that is on par with more than 5 million cars' CO2 emissions in the US.
A 2015 study also discovered that the electricity used for computer gaming was equivalent to the sum of electricity used for freezers and dishwashing machines.
While video games are not exactly known for sustainability, the nearly $160 billion industry is becoming recognized as a way to hold the gaming industry, players, and national governments accountable when it comes to combating the climate crisis.
In fact, according to a national survey, there is a positive link between video game playing and intentions to take climate action collectively. Such findings remained consistent even after confounding variables, such as political party and age, were accounted for.
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How Video Games Can Be Used For Climate Action
Leaders have been realizing how video games can be strategically used for climate action.
For instance, some programs of the United Nations have collaborated with developers in order to engage with audiences of gamers. This has been done with the goal of tackling climate change and reaching sustainable development.
One effort is Playing for the Planet, which is an initiative backed by the UNEP (United Nations Environment Program). It gathered gaming organizations and companies to use video gaming as a way to bolster environmental action.
A 2022 survey done by the Playing for the Planet Alliance discovered that more than 80% of respondents wanted green messages to be included in their games. Around two-thirds expressed consideration for making lifestyle changes that are environmentally sustainable. The survey covered almost 390,000 game-playing respondents.
Another article also suggests that playing games that contain climate content and the expressed intent of players to take collective climate action have a positive link.
There are also other games that make use of specifically targeted inactivation and messaging strategies for climate action.
Last April, Pokémon Go offered in-game rewards to players for spending some time outdoors as part of its yearly Sustainability Week.
Another popular climate activation strategy is in-game spending on green assets. Such assets typically have gem packs or coins, with a revenue percentage directly donated to green projects. Developers could also use some of the revenue to purchase carbon credits.
Video games can also play a huge role in expanding the imagination of people regarding concepts of climate change that may be difficult to understand.
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