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Video Games Europe celebrates EU Green Week by joining the United Nations-facilitated Playing for the Planet Alliance

04/06/2021

Video Games Europe also supports Green Game Jam aiming to empower millions of video game players to act for nature

Video Games Europe announced today that it is a new associate member of the United Nations-facilitated Playing for the Planet Alliance. On the occasion of EU Green Week, the association also communicated their target to achieve carbon neutrality for their secretariat by 2022 and to measure its carbon footprint by the end of 2021.

The Playing for the Planet Alliance was launched in 2019 during the Climate Summit at UN Headquarters in New York. In joining the Alliance, members have made commitments ranging from integrating green activations in games, reducing their emissions and supporting the global environmental agenda through initiatives ranging from planting millions of trees to reducing plastic in their products. Now, a new associate membership has been created to work with trade associations and reach the wider games community.

“The Playing for the Planet Alliance is a hugely important industry-wide global initiative. Our Video Games Europe secretariat is walking the walk and will actively promote the Alliance’s objectives through our network of 12 national trade associations covering 15 countries and member companies to support Europe’s video games sector in its efforts towards becoming climate neutral.”

Olaf Coenen, Video Games Europe Chariman

“When joining the Playing for the Planet Alliance, video games companies are required to make specific, time-bound and increasingly ambitious commitments to take action on the climate and nature crisis. We are looking forward to working with Video Games Europe and their members across Europe so that more video game companies can accelerate their progress towards sustainability.”

Sam Barratt, UN Environment Chief of Youth, Education and Advocacy

Launching today, Video Games Europe is also collaborating with the Playing for the Planet’s second annual Green Game Jam, bringing together over 25 studios across PC, mobile and console. With the aim to educate and empower millions of players to act for nature, this year’s Jam theme highlights the importance of conserving and restoring forests and oceans. For more information, visit: https://www.playing4theplanet.org/green-game-jam-2023

The video games sector is committed to climate-friendly actions including the integration of environmental responsibility and sustainability in its activities. Numerous video games studios already use their games to educate players on sustainability and to encourage them to partake in climate-friendly actions. See here for information on Video Games Europe’s response to the European Commission’s Climate Pact consultation and here for more information on our climate commitment.

Contact:

Heidi Lambert, Video Games Europe Press
Tel: +44 7932 141291

Players are at the heart of what we do.
Since 1998, Video Games Europe has ensured that the voice of a responsible games ecosystem is heard and understood, that its creative and economic potential is supported and celebrated, and that players around the world continue to enjoy great video game playing experiences. Video Games Europe represents the video games industry in Europe and is based in Brussels, Belgium. Our membership comprises national trade associations in 18 countries across Europe which represent in turn thousands of developers and publishers at national level. Video Games Europe also has as direct members the leading European and international video game companies.