VR and games: surprisingly effective in raising climate awareness

The gaming industry has a significant ecological footprint. Yet it is precisely the virtual world that can make a remarkable contribution to a more sustainable planet. Because what you experience in a game can deeply affect your awareness, changing it permanently.

"Green games and other immersive experiences such as virtual reality, in which you are immersed in another world, are powerful tools for stimulating climate awareness and action," says media specialist Joost Raessens of Utrecht University. 

It is important to understand which elements make a green game both effective and fun.

More sustainable through play

Raessens has been researching the rapidly growing offer of green media in recent years. He has noticed that more and more games are embracing environmental themes. In The Sims 4, players have to make their virtual world more sustainable. The game Wijk & Water Battle challenges local residents to use as little water as possible in order to win. 

"Through smart reward systems, such games teach millions of people to take responsibility for the world outside the screen," says Raessens. He investigates how a visual experience can entice someone to behave differently and take a fresh look at the world. "It is important to understand which elements make a green game both effective and fun. This way, we can help developers weave sustainability into the gaming experience."

Schoolchildren become astronauts

According to Raessens, the VR project SpaceBuzz shows how effective this can be. More than 140,000 children stepped into the role of astronaut to experience the so-called 'overview effect'. "This is the overwhelming feeling of awe that astronauts describe when they see Earth from space. The experience is so powerful that it often motivates them to protect the planet," says Raessens. "SpaceBuzz tries to give children that same perspective." 

Before departure, pupils undergo a short astronaut training course. They then step into a rocket simulator measuring over 15 metres, equipped with VR headsets. Accompanied by virtual ESA astronaut André Kuipers, they circle the Earth. They see its beauty, but also experience its vulnerability: melting ice caps, deforestation, pollution. "At one point, they see the Earth rising above the moon, just like the Apollo 8 crew did in 1968. Back on Earth, they talk about how the experience affected them and come up with inventions to tackle environmental problems."

It helps them see the Earth as a fragile, interconnected system and increases their willingness to do something for the climate.

Awareness that sticks

Research by Tilburg University shows that this approach works. Children feel awe, connection and compassion. "It helps them see the Earth as a fragile, interconnected system and increases their willingness to do something for the climate," says Raessens.

According to Raessens, what makes SpaceBuzz so powerful is the combination of preparation and processing. "The training and the story that prepares the pupils for the experience, and the reflection and discussion afterwards that allows them to convert their emotions into concrete ideas for action. That structure is crucial, both for VR and for games." 

In the Horizon Europe project STRATEGIES, Raessens is collaborating with the Sustainable Games Alliance on a calculation tool to provide insight into the carbon footprint of games. Their aim is to provide policy advice to the EU on sustainable game design. "If we can help big studios like Sony or Microsoft to integrate even a small green idea into a game that is played by millions of people," he says, "it can really make a difference for the planet."