Thu 16 Mar 2023 | by Rob Hutchins

Playing for the Planet Alliance celebrates 'breakthrough year' in 2022 Impact Report

Playing for the Planet Alliance, the UN Environment Programme-backed gaming industry initiative to drive sustainable development across the sector, has called 2022 a ‘breakthrough year’ for sustainability in videogames. Published in its Playing for the Planet Alliance’s 2022 Annual Impact Report, the group has detailed that last year 64% of its members raised their decarbonisation ambition to achieve net zero carbon or carbon neutrality. More than half of Alliance members now adopt science-based methods for carbon accounting and reporting. A survey of nearly 400,000 gamers shows that players are keen on taking more environmental action. Around 70% of respondents say they’d be open to changing their environmental behaviours; a figure which rose to 81% after playing green activations as part of the annual Green Game Jam. Elsewhere, studios are making progress on a new plastic packaging protocol, guidance on running more sustainable events and the Green Game Jam itself saw some 2.5 million trees planted with the first ever climate march taking place in the Riders Republic game. Sam Barratt, chief of youth and advocacy for the UN Environment Programme, said: “While there is still a long way to go, 2022 was breakthrough year for Playing for the Planet, with more studios signing up to science-based targets and the player survey showing a real demand for such content in games.” The Alliance was founded to encourage the video game industry to reduce its emissions and help inspire gamers develop sustainability awareness and commit to climate action. The report is a UNEP publication that aggregates progress made by Alliance members, summarises new annual commitments, and serves as an accountability mechanism with those unable to fulfil their pledges seeing their membership put on hold. The 2022 Impact Report can be read in full here.