The inaugural Green Games Summit is set to take place in Nairobi on the weekend of February 24, bringing together leaders from the video games industry, the UN, and government representatives. The summit, which is organized by the UNEP-facilitated Playing for the Planet Alliance and the Pan Africa Gaming Group, aims to harness the power of gaming to meet the needs of environmental sustainability. More than 100 ministers from across the world are expected to attend, with the summit highlighting projects such as the Green Game Jam and showcasing some of the best-in-class studios making games in Africa.
The summit precedes the sixth session of the UN Environment Assembly at the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters, where heads of state and government will gather to discuss environmental stewardship. With 3.4 billion players across the world, the Green Games Summit underscores the growing industry’s commitment to environmental sustainability and aims to engage one million people to take action in the real world through gaming.
According to Jay Shapiro, Chairperson of the Pan Africa Gaming Group, Nairobi is the perfect place to host the summit as Kenya already runs on 90 per cent renewable energy and has one of the cleanest gaming sectors globally. The summit will not only focus on the potential of gaming for environmental impact but also highlight the opportunities for the gaming industry in Africa, particularly with over a billion digital native youth coming online in the continent.
The event will feature the participation of studios such as Usiku Games, Internet of Elephants, Mekon from Kenya, and Sea Monster from South Africa, showcasing the innovative work being done in the African gaming industry. The summit is poised to provide a platform for discussions and collaborations that can drive the gaming industry towards a more sustainable and environmentally conscious future.
As the world’s gaming industry continues to grow, the Green Games Summit in Nairobi presents a unique opportunity to explore the untapped potential of gaming for environmental sustainability and to highlight the strides being made in Africa’s gaming sector. With the participation of industry leaders, government representatives, and UN officials, the summit is expected to spur meaningful discussions and initiatives for a greener gaming industry and a more sustainable future.
