Building a Responsible Metaverse Sustainability Climate concerns and systemic inequalities The metaverse could replace some carbon- Key Takeaway have elevated environmental sustainability to intensive activities, such as business travel, and one of the greatest priorities of our generation. enhance everyday chores such as shopping. As witnessed in past decades, technology A “try before you buy” virtual environment and Be intentional about when and presents both opportunities and challenges immersive storytelling can help bridge the how your organization uses the for sustainability. It is possible, then, to strike a intention-action gap in consumers while saving metaverse, and understand how balance between the energy and data demands them transportation costs and time. it advances as well as hampers of the metaverse and sustainability. your sustainability commitments. The potential is vast, and creating immersive Identify the sustainability levers For example, digital twins—virtual replicas of experiences requires significant computing your organization controls and physical processes and business activities— power, data storage and new devices. Effects determine key performance promote efficiency. Digital twin solutions include increased global carbon emissions, indicators that measure progress connect assets in a portfolio, business unit or electricity use and e-waste, and less biodiversity. and drive accountability for organization to create a system-level view that Similarly, some popular blockchain applications metaverse sustainability across can unlock 20-30% in trapped value through are maintained by decentralized networks, the enterprise. enterprise and asset improvements. Digital twins some of which utilize proof-of-work consensus let manufacturers visualize new product models mechanisms that require significant electricity Simultaneously, explore how the 13 metaverse can drive innovative with immense detail to reduce wasteful churn, and computing needs. The problem is and even help energy companies optimize that sustainability disclosures around these solutions to champion sustainability. their use of water through real-time data and technologies are not yet globally available. connected machinery. Without the underlying data, it is difficult to quantify the problem and determine which actions will yield the largest impact. 17