The Environmental Impact of Video Games & How to Decarbonize the Industry
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In this data story, we will break down the past and future carbon footprint of the video game industry.
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What is Collapsology?
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It’s evident that climate change is having a profound impact on our world, but how does collapsology play into what’s currently happening?
Collapsology refers to the potential collapse of our industrialised civilisation, as it is currently threatened by environmental, economic, and social upheaval.
In this article, we’ll explain what collapsology is, how it is threatened by climate change, and how we could avoid it.
What is the meaning of collapsology?
Collapsology is defined as the scientific study of the potential collapse of civilisation, and what would happen as a result of the demise of our current modernised and industrial processes.
It is important to remember that collapsology places an emphasis on not only the study of the collapse of our society, but what would happen afterwards – as humanity would need to transition once more to low-carbon methods of producing goods and services to maintain our current global economy.
“ Two types of choices seem to me to have been crucial in tipping the outcomes [of the various societies' histories] towards success or failure: long-term planning and willingness to reconsider core values. On reflection we can also recognise the crucial role of these same two choices for the outcomes of our individual lives. – (Jared Diamond). ”
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Factors Impacting Collapsology
Here’s a breakdown of the various factors which contribute to the study of collapsology:
- Climate Change – Extreme weather events like wildfires, droughts, floods, rising sea levels, and hurricanes all have an impact on how hospitable our planet remains – as it can impact agriculture, our health, and cause people to move more frequently than they would otherwise.
- Loss of Biodiversity – As biodiversity is an essential part of our ecosystems and can help to fight against climate change, it could also contribute to collapsology – as reduced agricultural productivity, soil erosion, and disrupted food chains would all make it harder for humanity to survive.
- Depletion of Resources – As we continue to burn through fossil fuels and run through our freshwater resources, the chances of collapsology coming to fruition skyrocket – as it will disrupt global supply chains and cause political conflict.
- Economic Instability – As inflation continues as a result of difficulty meeting supply and demand, there is a greater chance of social unrest, protests, and efforts to challenge current government systems.
- Political Uproar – As nations around the world will continue to grapple with the effects of climate change, it could spur authoritarian governments and make it more challenging to peacefully address global issues – such as with the Paris Agreement.
As a whole, collapsologists study how these variables can increase the chances of society collapsing – which is especially valuable information as climate change continues to threaten many facets of modern society.
Why might collapsology happen?
Collapsology could occur as a result of many factors, such as a result of ecological issues, political instability, and incessantly sparse resources.
Remember, collapsology is more likely to occur as a result of numerous factors occurring at the same time – as one variable could influence another, such as how limited resources could spur social unrest.
“ Rather than bunkering down alone in an abandoned nuclear facility and preparing to weather the storm alone, the movement aims to save society as a society - starting rural, communal lifestyles while welcoming communication with the wider world. – (The Sun). ”
In fact, studies from MIT and the University of Melbourne predict that the beginning of the collapse of civilisation could occur as early as 2040 or 2050 – which makes it especially important to understand the potential repercussions of collapsology now.
This is precisely why collapsologists explore the potential scenarios under which our modern civilisation could collapse, as it could be approaching faster than any of us realise.
Here’s a further breakdown of why collapsology may occur in the future:
- Ecological Overshoot – As industrial processes continue to produce excess GHG emissions, deplete resources, and deteriorate our air quality – we could exacerbate climate change and make it challenging to meet our current global supply and demand.
- Our Current Complexity and Interdependence – Our modern societies today are vastly interconnected and interdependent on one another – such as how during the pandemic, many nations teamed up to provide one another with vaccines, masks, and ventilators. If a single facet of our society is to collapse, such as agriculture, then it wouldn’t just affect the region growing the crops – but it would also impact multiple other countries.
- Finite Energy and Resources – Since our industrialised world was built on cheap and affordable energy sources, which are now finite and have been shown to aggravate climate change – could be one of the main and potential causes to the collapse of our society. While the transition to the use of renewable energy can help to mitigate this, it isn’t happening fast enough to compensate for the already-existing threat.
- Short-Term Thinking – As people, businesses, and governments do not capitulate to the need to address climate change – it will be harder to facilitate business growth in the midst of our global ecological crisis. This is why at Greenly, we want to help your business to build long-term success and sustainability.
Overall, collapsology doesn’t mean surrendering to impending doom – but it’s meant to help us better understand the factors and prepare in the event that one or more of these variables elicits the collapse of our modern society.
What would happen to society under collapsology?
If the potential outcomes illustrated under collapsology were to occur, we would experience a complete and profound collapse of our modern society as we know it – as political and social upheaval and a lack of resources to operate “business as usual” would require humanity to completely redefine its current set-up for survival.
Essentially, if the consequences depicted by collapsology were to occur – humans would have to start from scratch in how we handle conflict and resume industrial processes, which would be more challenging than when the Industrial Revolution first occurred in the 1800s as our population and global economy are both bigger in present day.
“ You know, we all have our inner demons. I, for one - I can't speak for you, but I'm on the verge of moral collapse at any time. It can happen by the end of the show. – (Glenn Beck). ”
Here’s what would happen if our society were to collapse:
Environmental Breakdown
As extreme weather conditions could lead to mass famines, changes in migration patterns, and more – the continued degradation of our natural environment could cause society to collapse.
This is because wildfires, hurricanes, and more can make it increasingly difficult for people to afford healthcare, homeowners insurance, and run a business.
Ultimately, everyday aspects of life will be more difficult to sustain as a result of climate change and natural disasters – leading to the collapse of our society.
Energy and Infrastructure Failure
The current dwindling supply of fossil fuels are already having an impact on energy prices, such as with the rising electricity prices in the Europe – it will be more challenging to access various goods, food, and medicine.
Furthermore, a lack of electricity or load shedding could compromise the use of the internet and all digital communication – which has become a pivotal aspect of society.
Inflation & Unemployment
As global markets shrink as a result of reduced available resources to trade between nations, there will also be less jobs – and the prices of everyday goods will continue to skyrocket.
As a result, a benefit of this could be that people will return to local businesses and small-scale methods of production – but this would also be a major transition and could prove challenging.
Cultural Transition
As resources will continue to grow limited, consumerism culture will have no choice but to fade to the background – as global supply chains will no longer be able to keep up with the demand for goods and services.
In addition to this, as a result of our current interconnected nature – people will have less access to information from hundreds of years ago – which could cause societal issues and a shift in perspective.
Would the collapse of our society be beneficial?
Although the collapse of society would be challenging and painful for humans, many
collapsologists believe that this time period would spur positive growth for society – as it could lead to read change, more sustainable lifestyles, and overall more well-rounded way of living.
This is often referred to as a “post-collapse” renaissance. Think of how after the Covid-19 pandemic, people began traveling and attending concerts like never before – such as with Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour. One version of extreme behavior inspired us to adopt a new way of living, and many collapsologists believe that the same could occur for all of humanity if civilisation is to witness a downward spiral.
The table below will further depict what would happen to the world if various factors such as energy limitations, food security, or political uproar as a result of natural disasters could contribute to the collapse of our society:
| Factor | Immediate Effects | Long-term Consequences |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Limitations |
- Fuel shortages disrupt transportation and industries. - Rolling blackouts and grid failures. - Increased energy costs. |
- Economic stagnation and deindustrialisation. - Collapse of global supply chains. - Transition to localised, low-energy economies. |
| Food Security |
- Crop failures due to droughts, floods, or soil degradation. - Rising food prices and scarcity. - Malnutrition and public health crises. |
- Mass migration and climate refugees. - Social unrest and food riots. - Collapse of industrial agriculture systems. |
| Water Scarcity |
- Depletion of freshwater reserves. - Agricultural and industrial disruptions. - Increased competition for water resources. |
- Regional conflicts over water access. - Desertification and ecosystem collapse. - Forced adaptation to water-efficient systems. |
| Political Uproar |
- Government instability and loss of public trust. - Authoritarian regimes or martial law. - Civil unrest and protests. |
- Fragmentation of nation-states. - Rise of localised governance or warlords. - Breakdown of international cooperation. |
| Natural Disasters |
- Infrastructure destruction (storms, earthquakes, wildfires). - Mass displacement and humanitarian crises. - Disruption of critical services (healthcare, transportation). |
- Economic collapse in affected regions. - Long-term environmental degradation. - Increased frequency and intensity due to climate change. |
What could we do to avoid collapsology from occurring?
There are many things we could do to avoid our society from collapsing, such as by:
- Transitioning to the Use of Renewable Energy – The sooner that we transition to the use of solar panels, wind turbines, and more – the sooner we can avoid the potential repercussions of the long-term use of fossil fuels and other finite energy sources.
- Encouraging Sustainable Businesses – If more companies make an effort to go green, it could help to reduce the environmental impact of business operations worldwide – and ultimately aid in avoiding the collapse of society.
- Adopting a Green Lifestyle – It isn’t only large corporations or industrial processes that can help to mitigate the collapse of society, but the everyday person too – as adopting a green lifestyle can help to preserve our ecosystem, biodiversity, and avoid the negative effects of collapsology.
- Working Towards Political Peace – This is perhaps one of the most pivotal aspects, but will also be the most difficult to accomplish – especially as political tensions rise following the 2024 presidential election in the United States. However, adopting a “team” effort mindset to work together and fight against things like climate change now, could help society to recover better in the future should it collapse.
Overall, colllapsology is relevant in the midst of climate change – as many of the effects of global warming and natural disasters could result in the dismantlement of our society.
What about Greenly?
If reading this article about collapsology has inspired you to consider your company’s own carbon footprint, Greenly can help.
At Greenly we can help you to assess your company’s carbon footprint, and then give you the tools you need to cut down on emissions. We offer a free demo for you to better understand our platform and all that it has to offer – including assistance on how to reduce emissions, optimise energy efficiency, and more to help you get started on your climate journey.
Learn more about Greenly’s carbon management platform here.
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Sources
Taylor & Francis Online https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/14742837.2024.2321131
MIT https://thereader.mitpress.mit.edu/the-collapse-is-coming-will-humanity-adapt/
The Sun https://www.the-sun.com/news/1074573/collapsologists-civilisation-crumbles-coronavirus-preppers-prepared/
Live Science https://www.livescience.com/collapse-human-society-limits-to-growth.html
How to Save the World https://howtosavetheworld.ca/2013/07/05/will-the-collapse-of-civilization-begin-with-global-corporatist-totalitarianism/
HAL Open Science https://hal.science/hal-03920263/document
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