Playing for the planet 2021 impact report
Today UNEP releases the Playing for the Planet Alliance Impact Report of 2021. It’s a great read for anyone interested in the progress the gaming sector is making to become more sustainable and engage the two billion gamers around the world with nature.
As members of the Alliance, we feel that while there is lots to do, there is also a lot to be proud of, with:
2/3rds of members committing to reduce their emissions
Green Game Jam reaching 130 million gamers
50 actions taken by members and 7 new studios and 7 new trade bodies joining.
It’s a promising continuation of an initiative in its second year.
What is the Playing for the Planet Alliance, and why was it created?
The Playing for the Planet alliance is an initiative of the UN Environment Program. It brings together major game companies, like Sony, Unity, Microsoft, and smaller ones (like Internet of Elephants).
The Alliance was created in 2019 to support the video games industry to:
take serious action to reduce its carbon footprint
inspire environmental action through games
share learnings so others in the industry can follow suit
explore new strategies around games and storytelling for positive environmental impact
What are the results so far?
The reports documents the decarbonization progress of members, the initiatives that were taken, and the impact numbers of interventions.
We are especially impressed by the results of the Green Game Jam.
Thirty mobile and console companies joined the Green Game Jam 2021. Companies like Ubisoft, Mojang Studios, Niantic, Sony Interactive Entertainment, and Ustwo Games integrated green activations in and out of games, such as new modes, maps, themed events, storylines, and messaging. All activations centered around conserving and restoring forests and oceans.
130 million players engaged with the content.
Sam Barrat of UNEP shares a summary of the findings in the press release.
You can download the full report and take an in-depth look at the results and pledges.
Why Playing for the Planet matters
Changing current environmental trends is going to require the commitment of the private sector, and while there is a long long way to go, alliances like Playing for the Planet, orchestrated by Sam Barrat and UNEP are a great step in the right direction.
Examples like the Green Game Jam show the potential impact clearly.
While we are a tiny speck in comparison to some of the other names on this list, we’ve always known that the real impact of games is not going to come from the games we make, but through the partnerships we forge. Here’s to hoping that the real stories of wildlife and nature become more mainstream through the power of games. That is the commitment we made to the alliance.
What’s next?
The bar is set for 2022, and we’re counting on this movement to gather speed from here.
If you are a leader in the games sector and want to make your own commitment, P4P is always looking for new members. Take a look at the report and get in touch.