Gaming is a major global industry, as well as a powerful cultural force, with over 3.3 billion people playing games on a regular basis. With games becoming a popular way to meet new people and connect with like-minded players, games are no longer simply a product. In fact, players are also asking for more from developers: next to taking a stance on politics and mental health, there is a clear demand for standing up for social causes. When it comes to environmental action, 63% of all gamers feel a personal sense of responsibility to reduce global warming, presenting a unique opportunity to reach people in an engaging, impactful and creative way.

This is why Google is joining the Playing for the Planet Alliance, a United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) that encourages the gaming industry — as a member — to reduce its environmental impact. We have been working closely with Playing for the Planet on their flagship event, the Green Game Jam, a global event that challenges game developers to create in-game activations that promote environmental awareness and action. Through this partnership, we witnessed first hand the enthusiasm and commitment of companies like Ubisoft, Rovio and Supercell to drive sustainability efforts, reaching millions of players daily.

In 2017, we became the first major company to match 100% of our annual electricity use with renewable energy. Today, we’re pursuing net zero emissions across our operations and value chain by 2030. As a member of the Alliance, we are committed to reduce our carbon footprint and support the Green Game Jam. We will showcase the forward thinking in-game implementations on Google Play and also bring together developers and Google product teams to understand how our platforms can reduce the environmental impact of the gaming industry.

The fifth edition of the Green Game Jam will kick-off in early 2024 — under the theme of building communities and inspiring people to take small actions close to home. We are excited to see how developers across all genres will translate this into their games to engage millions of people globally in order to show that playing games can create change.