GTA V challenges gamers to “Imagine a city full of people ruthlessly pursuing wealth, fame and self-improvement, at any cost? Where everyone you met was either a celebrity, trying to be a celebrity, or used to be a celebrity? Where nature’s bounty meant you could enjoy perfect weather all year round? Where the air was so good you could literally see and taste it? Dare to dream, because that city exists…” Well, don’t get too excited, because the virtual world of Los Santos you have just imagined is currently affected by extreme weather events, with the fresh air mentioned by GTA actually being pollution.

To warn the world about the devastating consequences of the climate crisis and make people understand the urgency with which the governments need to act to stop this environmental issue from evolving, Greenpeace Brasil joined forces with agency VMLY&R for the launch of the “Los Santos +3°C” campaign, with gamers invited to play in Los Santos while under the pressure of extreme weather events. Due to an increase of the average temperature by three degrees Celsius, the virtual world’s most important city is practically “unplayable.”

Real experts’ predictions were used to turn the digital counterpart of the real Los Angeles into a place that doesn’t resemble much to the one gamers already know. Under the effects of the climate crisis, Los Santistas are now climate refugees, living either in shelters or on the streets. Also, they need to wear masks to protect themselves from the smog — otherwise, they die. A decrease in flora and fauna, dry reservoirs, and flooded areas are part of the Los Santos’ landscape now. Not a pleasant sight, is it? If nothing changes, such a scenario could become real. In fact, much of what happens in Los Santos is already a reality in some parts of Brazil.

“We cannot forget that it is the role of the governments to create measures and develop structural actions to face the climate crisis, and we need to put pressure on them to carry out their role. With this version of the game, we want to make young people aware that it is in a world like this that we will live if our governments don’t take the necessary measures urgently. Therefore, we need to put pressure on Brazilian states to declare a climate emergency and to bring solutions in constant dialogue with civil society,” says Rodrigo Jesus, spokesman for Greenpeace.

“The first step in engaging people is to make them understand the problem. Los Santos +3°C will allow the player to experience what is already happening in different parts of the world, but which, many times, is still not directly related to the climate crisis,” comments Rafael Pitanguy, CCO of VMLY&R.

The online game featuring the altered map was available to play on the Kings Roleplay server from February 22nd to 25th. The campaign also includes a webpage, where users can discover the effects of climate change on Los Santos, in the world, and in Brazil. Upon browsing the page, visitors are kindly asked by Greenpeace to financially support those affected by extreme climate and sign a petition to make state governors declare a climate emergency.

Credits:

Client: Greenpeace Brasil

Agency: VMLY&R