With the integration of 5G networks, data centres, cloud services and an increase in computing power, electricity demand and CO2 emissions could rise.
The Metaverse refers to a 3D virtual space designed for living in an alternative reality to the real one. In other words, in the not too distant future, each of us will be able to create a digital identity (an avatar) to interact with other users or participate in everyday activities such as shopping or attending events.
Is the future in the Metaverse?
«The Metaverse is the next frontier in connecting people, just as social networking was when we first started,» announced American entrepreneur Mark Zuckerberg at the launch of Meta, the parent company that controls Facebook, Messenger and WhatsApp, among others. «Over the years, the internet has become more immersive, as our smartphones have become a window to the world that we are connected to 24/7. The Metaverse, – Zuckerberg promises – will be even more compelling because it will make us feel like we are physically participating in the experience.»
«In the Metaverse, you’ll be able to do almost anything you can imagine – meet with friends and family, work, learn, play, shop, create – as well as experience entirely new things that don’t fit the way we think about computers or phones today», Zuckerberg concluded.
Beyond entertainment, the benefits of the metaverse lie in its ability to provide compelling educational experiences, such as the possibility of training future pilots or surgeons, and in many cases to eliminate geographical boundaries and allow professionals to work remotely.
The environmental impact of the Metaverse
As the Metaverse is increasingly seen as the next big step in our digital future, it’s reasonable to question its sustainability. There is already considerable debate about whether the Metaverse can actually reduce pollution.
Americana Chen, a researcher for the World Institute of Sustainable Development Planner and the Unesco Hong Kong Association, has attempted to compile a list of pros and cons.
Pros of the Metaverse for sustainability:
- Virtualisation benefits: The virtualisation of objects, travel, buildings, courses, meetings and events can lead to significant savings in raw materials, a reduction in certain production processes and a reduction in global transport. This in turn can lead to significant energy savings at various levels.
- A tool for scientists: An advanced virtual reality environment such as the Metaverse can become a valuable tool for scientists. It can help study climate scenarios and test green technologies, providing a platform for innovation and research without the physical constraints and resource use of traditional methods.
- Reduced environmental impact: The Metaverse’s decentralised infrastructure is beneficial from an environmental perspective. Cloud-based data storage has been shown to have a lower environmental impact than traditional data centres, supporting a more sustainable approach to data management and storage.
Cons of the Metaverse for sustainability:
- Rising electricity demand: The growing use of the internet, including advances such as 5G networks, data centres and cloud computing, could significantly increase electricity consumption. This in turn could lead to higher CO2 emissions.
- AI training costs: A personalised user experience in the Metaverse is powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI). Training and maintaining AI algorithms requires significant amounts of energy and generates CO2 emissions. A 2019 study by the University of Massachusetts Amherst found that training a single AI model can generate 626,000 pounds of CO2, equivalent to the lifetime emissions of a car.
- Expanding data centres: Engaging with the Metaverse generates a massive amount of data that needs to be stored. This will require the construction of new data centres. Many companies, including Google and Microsoft, have committed to powering their data centres with zero-carbon energy by 2030 and 2025 respectively to meet this challenge.
- E-waste concerns: The production of technology required for virtual reality experiences, such as AR wristbands, VR headsets, cyber shoes and haptic gloves, contributes to e-waste. According to the United Nations Global E-waste Monitor 2020, 53.6 million tonnes of e-waste was generated globally in 2019, with projections to exceed 74 million tonnes by 2030.
- Environmental cost of NFTs: The Metaverse relies on Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) for virtual authenticity and ownership, which are created using blockchain technology. This infrastructure demands significant energy. According to the Ethereum Energy Consumption Index, a single NFT transaction on the Ethereum platform emits nearly 150 kilograms of CO2. This is equivalent to 331,056 Visa transactions or 24,895 hours of YouTube viewing. Thus, each NFT transaction in the Metaverse contributes to environmental issues.
As of now, Intel analysts believe that our global information infrastructure would need to be 1,000 times more powerful to support a high-quality version of the Metaverse, which would still be in its early stages of development. This highlights the uncertainty surrounding both the future of this technology and its environmental impact.
The only certainty is that, based on current statistics and projections, it will be some time before the Metaverse can be considered sustainable.
