Four Lessons I Learned at the 2022 EMA IMPACT Summit
It's no secret the many obstacles climate change brings, including severe weather, economic instability, loss of biodiversity, and a myriad of social justice hardships. While we are indeed in challenging times, we can still look to the hope that resilience and cooperation can bring. UN Climate Chief, Patricia Espinosa, has said that we "not lose focus" as we aim to accelerate the benefits green solutions offer. A focus on solutions and hope is why we hosted our fifth annual EMA Impact Summit this past month. IMPACT is where leaders across industries discuss progress, goals, innovations, messaging, and how different sectors can work together to fix our environmental issues. It was much needed and believe me when I tell you that we all needed some hope this year! It was wonderful to hear discussions on sustainability on many topics that allowed for thought-provoking, moonshot ideas! While I learned more than a plethora of things to list in a single article, there are four key takeaways I wish to share with you all while attending the 2022 EMA IMPACT Summit, Presented by Toyota North America. I hope the following lessons will give you an idea of IMPACT's importance today, tomorrow, and for future generations.
Lesson One: We All Have a Role in Saving Sharks
A foundational component of EMA's mission is to provide a unified voice for our planet through entertainment, storytelling, and education. What makes the event long-admired is the ability to bring this mission to life through integrating multiple backgrounds and perspectives that create effective solutions for the world. And, as you can expect, such stories can often start from a disturbing reality. So the first lesson I would like to share isn't to discourage or sadden anyone; it's just an example of how storytelling sometimes has to hit you right in the face to make a difference. That's why director and activist Eli Roth's panel on saving sharks stood out to me. There were audible gasps in the audience when Eli revealed that 100 million sharks are killed each year by humans. Of course, a startling fact such as that ropes you in, but it was the explanation of how we can all make a difference to save sharks that took a sad story and turned it into action. What power!
The panel, moderated by EMA Board Member Philippe Cousteau and featuring legendary photographer Michael Mueller, focused on how sharks are dying at an alarming rate, and it's not only because of shark fin soup. From squalene in beauty products to shark hunting tournaments in Florida, these apex predators face assaults from multiple fronts across the globe. Learning that sharks face threats worldwide is more engaging because sharks are an indicator of ocean health, keeping coral reefs and seagrass beds healthy. As a result, we might want to rethink how honestly content creators portray sharks in media; we see you, Jaws.
Lesson Two - It’s not Climate Action Unless Every Community Benefits
Regarding the social implications of environmental issues, rapper and entrepreneur Brandon 'Stix' Salaam-Bailey quickly addressed systemic injustices still at play for many underprivileged (check out his Think Watts Foundation). I was excited to hear him speak because I could feel the truth and passion that came from his words. Furthermore, he made a strong point with his stance on having inclusivity at the center of impact. It hit home for me as soon as I heard him say such things as, "I want to see change for people, no matter what you look like." The COVID-19 pandemic showed how global phenomena affect disadvantaged communities far more than their privileged counterparts, and the same is true regarding climate change.
'Stix' was honest yet very graceful as he shed light on how everyone, and anyone, can be part of the solution. Further, he welcomed the support of businesses such as Toyota to play a role in leveling the playing field regarding access to sustainable mobility. His determined energy is contagious, as he received applause multiple times for sharing his deep insights with everyone in the room. A discussion such as this made it apparent how solutions that involve everyone are more unifying.
I'm starting to feel more relief seeing organizations and businesses take sustainability seriously. But, more importantly, including sustainability practices adopted by members of diverse communities is the icing on the cake. Further, Stix's words made it even more apparent why IMPACT is essential. If we are to progress towards sustainable practices that are inclusive and equitable, we need everyone, from companies to activists, to have a direct, respectful dialogue. Doing so will reveal that inclusivity in a climate narrative is a win for everyone.
Lesson Three - Activist Voices are Louder than Ever Before
When it comes to storytelling, being entertaining is one thing, but using a story to drive motivation and action is another. Since the 2010s, social media has exploded into an entertainment medium. Today, it is a function of entertainment and business, having the ability to connect and inspire each other.
People with the right amount of passion and grit can now make a huge difference in the lives they touch. I find that really empowering. John Rego, Vice President of Sustainability at Sony Pictures Entertainment, noted the cultural significance of content made nowadays. And since there's never been more noise and content flooding media, we must rely on collaboration to reach the most people. Thus, I wish to share another lesson about the power influencers have to drive activism and change. Media conglomerates such as Sony recognize how their productions can drive positive change and how today's influencers can support that.
The panel that dove into this was Generation Change: Ethical Climate Storytelling in New Mediums. It was positively overwhelming seeing all these environmentally-conscious influencers in one place, including Wawa Gatheru, Isaias Hernandez, Kristy Drutman, & Maya Penn.My biggest takeaway from this discussion was appreciating the devotion these agents of change have to educating people on how to be better stewards of the planet, capitalizing on the ways to reach so many that would not have been possible a decade ago. At EMA, we decided to launch our EMA Activist Board, recognizing the importance of this shift in media consumption and the importance of equity and inclusivity in the narratives we tell. It is exciting to see how much reach activism has today compared to before. Citizens can put their voices to use with determination and resilience, creating momentum to bring change to communities that need it most but may not know where to start. The individuals who spoke here, sharing stories of triumph and growth over obstacles, were inspiring and made me feel that anything is possible.
Lesson Four - Global Problems are Interconnected
Despite the work still laid out before us, we remain determined for all the progress we strive to develop every year, especially as we come together amid a global health crisis. The final lesson I want to share is how interrelated global issues, such as COVID-19 and climate change, really are. Examples of this within the last two years would include less air pollution as people stopped commuting for work. Many of us living in heavily populated metropolitan areas probably remember how clear the sky was and how healthy it felt to take a deep breath—considering that the WHO estimates that outdoor air pollution contributes to nearly 4.2 million premature deaths yearly.
If there's anything I feel was a common theme from each discussion at IMPACT, it was how sustainability connects every sector. This realization was eye-opening for me to understand our actions' extent further. IMPACT made it clear to me those everyday decisions can make a difference. With knowledge as powerful as this, I believe we can use it to our advantage and therefore make decisions that benefit ourselves and those around us. As the saying goes, we want to do more good and not less bad.
At EMA, we work tirelessly to make positive change by inspiring millions of people across the globe to live sustainable lifestyles and use their voices to help our planet. Whether it be our IMPACT summit, EMA Awards, or Green Seal program, we remain steadfast in our efforts to see a green future. In closing, I'd like to share this final quote by Michael Tripp, Vice President of Vehicle Marketing & Communications at Toyota Motor Sales, saying, "all of us are better than any one of us!" Thank you, and I hope these lessons help you on your journey to living better for yourself, others, and the planet. Please subscribe to our EMA YouTube Channel, so you don't miss the roll-out of our IMPACT videos.
Written by Demitri Fierro, ESG Contributor (MBA Candidate in Sustainable Management)