This year marks the 5th edition of Green Game Jam organised by the Playing for the Planet Alliance. Unlike other game jams that build games from scratch, the Green Game Jam supports studios to build activations that focus on an environmental theme into their existing games.
In the last four years we’ve planted over 2.5 million trees and raised over $700,00 for wildlife conservation. But in 2024, we want to do things a little differently. We’re asking studios to go one step further, and rally their players to take action in the real world for the environment.
Whilst we already have our full list of participants locked in, we’re always open to studios who want to get involved. Drop us a note at info@playing4theplanet.org to find out how you can get involved.
Conventional wisdom suggests increasing understanding, awareness, concern, or even fear of climate change are necessary precursors for action.
But even though our knowledge of climate impacts has increased, people’s willingness to act (the intention), was the same in 2014 as it was in 2021. New research suggests that action is the place to start. (IOP Science)
This year’s Green Game Jam aims to empower players to take that first step towards action for the environment. The hope that one action leads to more, creating a chain reaction of small actions that lead to big impact.
Our goal for this year is to get 1 million players to participate in actions that benefit the planet.
The United Nations Environment Programme has three strategic focus areas related to climate, pollution, and nature, which we’ve scaled down to areas relevant to everyday life for this year’s theme:
Mar 14: Food with Crystal Díaz
Mar 28: Design with Arnaud Fayolle
Apr 4: Design with Clayton Whittle
Apr 11: Design with Trevin York
Apr 18: Past Participants Panel
FOOD (Climate)
The production and consumption of sufficient, affordable and nutritious food, while conserving the natural resources and ecosystems on which food systems depend, is vital. Our food system is responsible for 30% of carbon emissions (UN) and is the primary driver of biodiversity collapse (UNEP). How can we make small changes to the way we eat to drive demand for more sustainable food sources?
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WASTE (Pollution)
Humanity generates an estimated 2.24 billion tons of municipal waste annually, of which only 55% is managed in controlled facilities. (World Bank) By 2050, this could rise to 3.88 billion tons per year. Around 931 million tons of food is wasted each year (UNEP), and up to 37 million tons of plastic waste is expected to enter the ocean annually by 2040. (UNEP) How can we reassess the ways we consume to use less and waste less?
RESTORATION (Nature)
We are nothing without nature. Yet forests that would cover an area the size of India have been cut down (UNEP) and 69% of wild species made extinct (WWF). But encouraging biodiversity in our gardens, balconies, parks and town centres is not as huge a task as it may seem. How can we look after the environment around us as a first step towards restoration?
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