Tools for assessing the environmental impact of immersive artworks

March 19, 2024

During their appearance at the FNC Forum last October, Landia Egal (Founder – Tiny Planets) and Amaury La Burthe (Founder – Novelab) pledged to provide immersive professionals with tools to assess the environmental impact of their creations.

A promise made, a promise kept.

On February 28, representatives of the Cas d’étude pour un immersif responsable (CEPIR) offered producers of digital experiences a calculator to assess the greenhouse gas emissions of XR productions, best practice sheets to reduce the environmental impact of their creations, and a prospective study that provides a glimpse of a desirable scenario.

All available under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND license on the CEPIR website.

The greenhouse gas emissions calculator for XR productions

Marie-Véronique Gauduchon, from Coopérative Carbone, presented a tool for assessing the greenhouse gas emissions for which an XR producer is responsible. This “calculator”, as she calls it, takes the form of an Excel file for producers to complete.

From the manufacture of the VR headset, via the data centers, to the travel required to accompany the work to festivals, everything is recorded and evaluated.

What’s more, this calculator contains a list of the supporting documents needed to have your results officially certified by an expert.

Best practice sheets for immersive professionals

For his part, Arnaud Cosella from Novelab presented a set of 26 best practice sheets to inspire XR producers to optimize their creations.

The tips cover the entire lifecycle of an XR experience, from prototyping to distribution.

This collection of practical tips is reminiscent of the Climate-Conscious Product Manager co-edited by François Burra, the resources shared by Masse Critique on the environmental impact of advertising, or even the On tourne vert program run by the BCTQ. Coincidence or sign of the times? Are we witnessing an evolution in attitudes? Only time will tell…

A prospective study on the future of immersive experiences

Speaking of the future, environmental expert Benoît Ruiz took his turn to share the results of a prospective study he conducted with Amaury La Burthe to assess different scenarios in relation to the greenhouse gas emissions for which XR producers are responsible.

His research points to a desirable scenario for ensuring the resilience of the XR sector. This so-called “sobriety” scenario would require “very strong regulation, which leads us to question which uses are really essential to us” (Démarche prospective de CEPIR: la XR immersive à l’horizon 2030, p. 68).

For more on foresight in general, read this interview with Catherine Mathys or the study Les futurs de la créativité numérique published last September by Société des demains. We also owe them a series of three articles for Synthèse entitled: Les implications écologiques du divertissement numérique ou les coûts cachés de l’innovation.

Photo by James Yarema on Unsplash

The question of subsidies for the XR sector

Other highlights of the CEPIR webinar included a case study from events agency and experience distributor XR Diversion Cinéma.

Indeed, its representative Marc Lopato explained how he carried out his company’s carbon footprint and developed an action plan to improve the situation. He pointed out, however, that he has “no legal obligation” to implement such actions.

In this respect, the CEPIR’s final report concludes with a recommendation to “make subsidies conditional on compliance with the emissions ceiling” (CEPIR, Rapport final, p. 61).

Concluding recommendations to public authorities and producers

This proposal is one of 10 measures suggested to public authorities by the CEPIR editors in the conclusion of their final report.

The Cas d’étude pour un immersif responsable team points out, however, that it’s not just up to government bodies to address the issue. The authors of the final report suggest that “it is the responsibility of companies in the XR sector to be a force for proposals, initiatives and innovations with regard to these issues” (CEPIR, Rapport final, p. 62).

Let’s hope that our local producers can shoulder these responsibilities.

Photo de Lucrezia Carnelos sur Unsplash.