Five Lessons I Learned at the 2024 EMA IMPACT Summit
Another year, another chance to come together and share our industry's impact while planning for future progress! 2024 has proven to be a year of climate mobilization, collaboration, and innovation. This year marks the official launch of the breakthrough American Climate Corps by the federal government, a national initiative that places today's youth in green jobs. The renowned COP 2029 will take place in Baku, Azerbaijan, coming off the heels of last year's largest gathering of climate advocates in COP history (86,000 participants). Mexico just elected its first female president, a climate scientist and former mayor of Mexico City.
In Hollywood, climate change solutions make progress in taking center stage. The Sustainable Production Alliance is rebranding as the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance.
Earth Angel, a leading sustainable production services agency, is partnering with pioneering tech company TheGreenShot to scale sustainability for productions in a streamlined, digital platform. Canadian-based Green Spark Group is partnering with the U.S. Green Building Council - California to pilot the Sustainable Production for Entertainment Certification (SPEC). The Music Sustainability Alliance launched the inaugural Music Sustainability Summit this February, which I was inspired to witness first-hand!
The seventh annual EMA IMPACT Summit drew a sold-out crowd in line with the industry's growing enthusiasm for sustainability. Every year, IMPACT brings movers and shakers from entertainment and beyond to address our environmental anxieties and solutions being made. I am amazed at how each year is better than the last as thought leaders from different sectors (including gaming and government!) come together to discuss what we can do to care for our planet!
While the event provided many incredible takeaways, I will share five key lessons that stood out to me at the EMA IMPACT Summit 2024, presented by Toyota North America. These takeaways will inspire you to make positive changes today, tomorrow, and in the years to come.
Lesson 1: We Can Find Impact in Unlikely Places
EMA has long strived to bring many voices into the room to discuss the ways that impact can happen. That sentiment continues! Today's youth, making up more than 13% of the U.S. population with 42 million adolescents, can build movements for change. How we reach them today may differ from past decades. This change in communication is why the carbon offset and greenhouse gas prevention enterprise Tradewater partnered with the masterminds behind Fortnite to bring environmentalism into gameplay, approaching climate awareness in a way not many intentionally look for. Climate columnist moderated the panel for the Los Angeles Times Sammy Roth, where panelists shared what a climate-themed Fortnite would look like. The premise is that players can collect and destroy oil refrigerants, use bows and arrows to plug oil wells in time, and pick up canisters. This concept excited me because playing a climate-focused Fortnite will also teach career skills such as teamwork, adaptability, and critical thinking. A point made during the discussion was that the power of community can be scaled. Music to my ears!
In addition to gaming, the medical field has thrown its life-saving hat into the ring. EMA Board Member Emmanuelle Chriqui led a panel with Dr. Nisha Shah and Dr. Gayle Kouklis to discuss how climate change affects our health and what we can do about it. I was so intrigued by this! "There is so much power in being able to take action on your behalf" were words that stood out to me. While the medical space is still new to being a part of climate solutions, I was pleased to hear the doctors sharing tips, such as how having a tree canopy in urban settings can help communities live happier and healthier lives. I knew the discussion couldn't end without a mention of how nature and mental health are connected, and I was right! Social connection around nature is vital for psychological and physical health, especially in the age of social media.
Another major piece of this lesson is the discussion on space and how to build equity in this new frontier! It was interesting to hear EMA Board Member Dr. Jay Lemery share with the audience that there has to be a "space for all" mentality for people to have the opportunity to see space up close. As we see more talk about visiting the moon and Mars, seeing what the elements look like from space would be truly memorable. Dr. Lemery believes space tours will be a thing in the next decade. Let's hope so.
Lesson 2 - Solutions are Within History
Sometimes, the answers to solving today's problems lie in the past, an example being America's majestic horses. In a panel discussion, Neda Demayo of Return to Freedom talked about the critical need for people to be more aware that wild horses still exist in America.
"If people don't care about something, they will not strive to conserve it. A sanctuary becomes nature's classroom," said Neda.
Rodger Savory of Savory Holistics talked about the importance of land management. The panel made the point that when land is managed correctly, horses and other cattle become part of the solution, especially when it comes to promoting regenerative agriculture. Horses and their equus ancestors have been a part of the North American landscape for thousands, if not millions, of years. Known as carbon sequestration, effective grazing for horses and cattle helps trap carbon in the soil, making our air cleaner and soil richer. This gives me much hope for what we can do today. The realization that biodiversity thrives with horses sheds light on what we can do today. What power!
Jorje Lopez Doriga of AJE added insights that were the icing on the cake. As Chief Sustainability Officer for a global company, they operate in some of the fourteen most biodiverse countries. He told the audience that business needs to create biovalue for the Amazon, and I found this enlightening. Indigenous communities have been caring for Earth for thousands of years. "They know much more than us," he said. Biodiverse regions like the Amazon have resources that can nourish society that we don't hear much about. An example mentioned is the camu camu, a fruit found in the Amazon, which has 40 times more vitamin C than an orange. This business strategy makes me feel that there are even more untapped resources Mother Earth is harboring for us to learn about.
Lesson 3 - All Communities Matter
What I enjoy most about conversations around the environment is that we learn each year how every community is affected by this global phenomenon and find ways to solve it. Climate change affects all of us in various ways, and with events such as EMA IMPACT, we can hear those voices front and center. Ben Jealous, Executive Director of the Sierra Club (an organization I have admired for so long and was glad to be a part of), immediately came to mind for me in this lesson. Speaking with the iconic Tavis Smiley, Ben sheds light on fighting for vulnerable communities. Ben shared that the Hispanic community is the most environmentally minded in the nation, a sign of the American fabric. Today, the country is the most multi-cultural, multi-racial now than it's ever been. Tavis chimes in on this by sharing that when people of color talk to people of color, it can make a difference. Ben, identifying as a person of color and taking the position of the head of the Sierra Club, is an example of that difference.
I was moved by the words of Rev. Lennox Yearwood Jr of the Hip Hop Caucus, explaining that we need to have a conversation about our existence and humanity. "The last line of defense is you, the storytellers. You are the last line of defense for humanity," said the Reverend. He talks about growing up in Louisiana's Cancer Alley, inspiring much of his social justice work today.
Moderator Natalie Moreles asked, "What would you say to those feeling hopeless in the climate movement?" The Reverend responded with these powerful words, taking inspiration from the beloved late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr: "Organized people beats organized money every single time. We will be fossil-free at last!"
The audience, me included, cheered in applause.
Lesson 4 - The Future is Bright with Clean Energy
Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, infrastructure in the United States is being made to support renewable energy. Every industry is seeing the momentum, from EVs in transportation to solar-powered trailers in entertainment.
Christina Arrington of Stealth Power shared that it's easier to switch out the batteries you have right now than to wait 5-10 years to start from scratch. Christina Chu of SOLARPUNKS added that 95% of energy from diesel machines is wasted because of the heat or because they are on standby mode at shoots. Currently, battery generators are more commonplace on the set. It's great that solar generation is cheaper than fossil fuel (kWh/power) and can be hyper-localized.
EMA's long-time partner, Toyota, also shared great things about electrification. During the panel, Heather Willis explained a fascinating concept known as the 1-6-90 rule: the minerals required to manufacture one electric vehicle could produce six plug-in hybrids or even 90 conventional hybrids. In reference to Toyota's Beyond Zero Campaign, Tyler McBride said that there is so much a company can do, noting that other automakers are investing in plug-in hybrids and hybrid vehicles.
The shift from gasoline-powered cars is growing, which means cleaner air.
Lesson 5- The Youth are the Way
My final lesson shared should relate to what I mentioned in the first lesson: today's youth are our greatest asset! Whether through engaging them through gaming, addressing the mental health and social concerns that nature can remedy, or giving equal access to resources at a young age, younger generations should have all they need to continue making an impact. This is why I was so impressed with the youth-empowered panel led by EMA Honoree and Board Member Shailene Woodley, as she was having a dialogue with speakers who motivate youth to ensure a livable future. Kalālapa Winter of Hawaii spoke of her activism work and that the Hawaiian Clean Energy Initiative is set to achieve 100 percent clean energy by 2045. The Hawaiian word for togetherness and coming together, lāhui, captivated me. Yet, most native Hawaiians don't live in Hawaii, as they continue to be "priced out" of their home.
Her focus on driving intergenerational change was met with much support in the room, as younger generations can do so much right now, just as she is.
Finally, the end of the summit was upon us. With it, every participant was on their feet in anticipation as former United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton walked into the room to deliver encouraging words about how the entertainment industry can galvanize environmental stewardship in children. Secretary Clinton talked about her upbringing outside of Chicago, where the heat waves were not as common as they are now, putting older folks in the emergency room and damaging the development of children. I appreciated her insights on where storytelling comes into play, sharing that climate storytelling has to become an organic, integrated part of the central narrative.
"There are many things individuals can do, but they must be made aware. "I find hope through action," the Former Secretary of State shared.
She reminded us all to consider children when we consider the effects of climate change, highlighting the Clinton Foundation's Too Small To Fail initiative. Extreme heat, pollution, and natural disasters can impact children's physical and mental development.
While the global youth are a vital part of our future, the time for climate action is here today!
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, Group Vice President of Marketing at Toyota North America, 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, ISSP-SEA (MBA Sustainable Management).
This article is made possible by the EMA Creator Fund. Please donate to support more content from emerging writers and creators.