Environmental Sustainability of Metaverse: Perspectives from Romanian Developers

Abstract

The metaverse is currently in the process of development and has applications in various fields, ranging from the gaming industry to art, communication, education, and fashion. Researchers regard the metaverse as the future of the internet, and, in this context, the impact of this new universe’s development on the environment needs to be investigated to find viable solutions for its sustainability. We have discussed the economic and social sustainability consequences of the metaverse, and we have largely concentrated on the environmental effects. In conducting this research, we used a quantitative methodology mainly based on a structured questionnaire. We analyzed the impact of the metaverse on the environment from the perspective of professionals in the Romanian software development and programming industries. We selected this sample because the field is newly emerging and because they are experts on how the metaverse functions and evolves. We concluded that IT professionals believe that the new universe could have several negative impacts on the natural environment, such as increased power consumption or increased CO2. emissions and the negative impact can be mitigated by adopting clear regulations and sustainable policies at the international level. This study aims to contribute to the long-term sustainability of the metaverse ecosystem by facilitating a comprehensive understanding of its functioning and evolution, as well as by addressing potential negative impacts on the natural environment. Additionally, the study seeks to make a scholarly contribution to advancing a sustainable metaverse by fostering informed decision-making processes and encouraging responsible practices within the industry. This research might be useful for technology companies, academics, and policymakers.

Metaverse cannot be an extra marketing immersive tool to increase sales in tourism cities

“…For instance, the metaverse platform has been implemented in Seoul, Santa Monica and Dubai MetaTourPolis to interact with their residents, including people with disabilities, to resolve bureaucratic and administrative problems, avoiding that this group and the rest of the residents travelling by bus or car to the city's intuitions. In addition, several metaverse applications based on softbot tutors or metaverse virtual social centres have been developed to improve blind and impaired people's, and elderly people' quality of life, respectively (Zambiasi et al, 2023;Wasi, 2023;Liang et al, 2023aLiang et al, , 2023bVl aduțescu & St anescu, 2023). The accessibility and inclusiveness of residents and tourists at MetaTourPolis need to provide an environment of equal opportunities for all.…”

“…Whereas for some authors such as Kim (2021), Monaco & Sacchi (2023), Tan et al (2023) and Mihalic (2024) show this virtual scenario as an advertising, promotion and marketing tool. From a governance and tourism development point of view, Bibri & Allam (2022a), Kuru (2023) and the WEF (2023a) noted that the metaverse enhances the governance and tourism development in cities, or even citizens' quality of life, including elderly people and blind and visually impaired people (Zambiasi, Rabelo, Zambiasi, & Romero, 2023;Wasi, 2023;Liang et al, 2023b;Vl aduțescu & St anescu, 2023). Indeed, most of the metaverse definitions presented in Table 1 are not considered in a tourism context to improve the tourism development of cities and to interact with and motivate tourists and residents to use this virtual platform with the aim of receiving new services and opportunities.…”

Evaluating Public Opinion on Sustainable Fashion in the Metaverse: A New Frontier for Consumer Engagement and Environmental Advocacy

“…Moreover, C. H. Wu et al (2023) [8] discussed how the integration of NFTs in fashion offers a unique opportunity to disrupt traditional consumption patterns by making fashion items collectible, thereby potentially reducing the need for physical garment production and its associated environmental impact. However, the significant energy requirements to support extensive digital environments, as highlighted by Vladuțescu & Stanescu (2023) [9], could negate these benefits if not sourced from renewable energies, underscoring the need for a balanced approach to digital fashion's evolution.…”

“…In the rapidly evolving digital landscape, it is crucial to consider the environmental impacts of digital advancements. Vlăduțescu & Stănescu (2023) [9] point out that the energy required to maintain extensive digital environments could negate the benefits of sustainability if not managed with renewable energy sources [9]. This highlights the importance of a balanced approach to digital sustainability that integrates technological innovations with environmental goals.…”

Evaluating the Determinants of Deforestation in Romania: Empirical Evidence from an Autoregressive Distributed Lag Model and the Bayer–Hanck Cointegration Approach

“…In the context of climate change and increasing concerns regarding environmental conservation, deforestation has become an extremely urgent and relevant issue globally. This concern is all the more pertinent in countries like Romania [1][2][3], which face specific challenges in managing natural resources and maintaining a sustainable balance between economic development and the conservation of forest ecosystems.…”