When Pixels Turn Green: The role of virtual reality in the fight against climate change
Abstract
Nature has found a way to make itself heard. Disasters like floods, heatwaves, and the extinction of flora and wildlife should serve as a wake up call for humanity to act more sustainable in the climate crisis. However, far off occurrences in both space and time, along with disconnectedness from nature, appear to preclude effective responses. This review explores how Virtu al Reality (VR) technology can be used to circumvent those limitations, thus offering a vital method to inspiring people. VR has the ability to enhance reality by allowing users to see their environmental impact, immerse themselves in different worlds, or change the passage of time. However, the lack of longitudinal designs or energy intensive online data storage may eventually undermine VR's usefulness in fighting climate change. This work exposes appropriate VR approaches to apply (self efficacy, immersion ……), how they affect individuals, and the method's broader societal consequences.
Keywords
Virtual Reality, Environmental Communication, Embodied Experience, Climate Change, Connectedness with Nature
How to Cite
Franke, I. F., (2025) “When Pixels Turn Green: The role of virtual reality in the fight against climate change”, Science for Sustainability (S4S) Journal 8(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.53466/s4s.28
Funding
- Name
- German Academic Exchange Service
- FundRef ID
- http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100021828
70
Views
20
Downloads
