As the Metaverse is iteratively being defined, its potential to unleash the
next wave of digital disruption and create real-life value becomes increasingly
clear. With distinctive features of immersive experience, simultaneous
interactivity, and user agency, the Metaverse has the capability to transform
all walks of life. However, the enabling technologies of the Metaverse, i.e.,
digital twin, artificial intelligence, blockchain, and extended reality, are
known to be energy-hungry, therefore raising concerns about the sustainability
of its large-scale deployment and development. This article proposes Green
Metaverse Networking for the first time to optimize energy efficiencies of all
network components for Metaverse sustainable development. We first analyze
energy consumption, efficiency, and sustainability of energy-intensive
technologies in the Metaverse. Next, focusing on computation and networking, we
present major advancements related to energy efficiency and their integration
into the Metaverse. A case study of energy conservation by incorporating
semantic communication and stochastic resource allocation in the Metaverse is
presented. Finally, we outline the critical challenges of Metaverse sustainable
development, thereby indicating potential directions of future research towards
the green Metaverse