Archive · 2 Aug 2025
UNEP's Gaming Initiatives: Environmental Advocacy and Tech Partnerships
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is working with video game companies to encourage gamers to care about the environment.
Through the Playing for the Planet Alliance, they're helping games become more environmentally friendly and are organizing the Green Game Jam.
This initiative asks gamers what nature means to them, then shares those thoughts with the people in charge of making laws.
UNEP also teams up with schools and universities to teach students about being sustainable.
They even have a Sports for Nature program with the Olympics, looking at how climate change affects sports.
By working with games and tech companies, UNEP wants to encourage everyone to help the planet.
UNEP collaborates with the gaming industry through the Playing for the Planet Alliance to promote environmental action.
The Green Game Jam initiative encourages gamers to discuss environmental issues, with their input shared with policymakers.
UNEP partners with higher education institutions via initiatives like the Little Book of Green Nudges to promote sustainability.
The Sports for Nature initiative, developed with the Olympics and IUCN, addresses climate change's impact on sports.
UNEP works with tech companies to promote green games and initiatives related to sustainability and climate action.
- Who
- Sam Barratt of UNEP and the Playing for the Planet Alliance.
- What
- UNEP is partnering with the gaming industry and other sectors to promote environmental action.
- When
- UNEP launched the Playing for the Planet initiative six years ago.
- Where
- UNEP operates globally, including in higher education institutions and sports organizations.
- Why
- To leverage the large reach and engagement of the gaming industry and other sectors to promote decarbonization, sustainability, and climate action.
AI’s Negative Environmental Impacts
AI's Potential Environmental Solutions
Resource consumption
AI’s Negative Environmental Impacts
AI data centers consume significant electricity, often from fossil fuels.
AI's Potential Environmental Solutions
AI requires substantial water for cooling, which can lead to water scarcity.
Waste production
AI’s Negative Environmental Impacts
AI hardware production generates electronic waste with hazardous substances.
AI's Potential Environmental Solutions
AI relies on critical minerals and rare earth elements.
- Organization
- UNEP
- Initiative
- Playing for the Planet
- Green Game Jam Participants
- 37 companies, 45 games
- Gamers Reached
- 1.4 billion
- Universities with Race to Zero commitments
- Over 1,500