Five Ways Hollywood Can Take Climate Action in 2024
2023 was a historic year for our industry. The entertainment industry endured two pivotal strikes for better business practices from the Writer's Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA, which have not occurred simultaneously since 1960. Further, this summer saw the phenomenon of Barbenheimer (both films that received our EMA Green Seal) and fellow Swifties coming out in support of the Eras tour, both in concert and at the theaters.
As the industry reflects on what led to success for these narratives and those involved in the filmmaking process, they also looked at how to innovate storytelling moving forward in a world increasingly impacted by climate change. Here are five ways Hollywood drives sustainability forward in 2024 in the latest EMA exclusive.
Making Climate Narratives Mainstream
We are in a monumental time of awareness, passion, and mobilization. Younger generations are calling for climate action and stories that showcase solutions. This year, COP28 held the very first Entertainment and Culture Pavilion, generating meaningful conversations that brought together environmental, community impact, and entertainment themes. This paves the way for climate narratives to become crucial to storytelling.
Gatekeepers have traditionally underdeveloped climate narratives in scripted storytelling compared to other themes. As reported recently as 2020, only 2.8% of 37,453 scripts analyzed used any keywords referring to climate change. Organizations and committees across the entertainment industry are witnessing the benefit of sharing stories reflecting our current society's fabric. We are hopeful to see more projects include climate action in narratives. They may even end up winning an EMA Award! We are confident that 2024 will see this movement continue to grow.
A final note on this topic: If Hollywood desires to tell climate stories but feels they are hard to come by, we urge the industry to widen its breadth of creators. For example, If Not Us, Then Who? is a coalition of indigenous filmmakers ready to tell such stories.
If Not Us, Then Who? Coalition speaking at the 2023 EMA IMPACT Summit
Production Decarbonization
While reducing the environmental impact of productions isn't new in Hollywood, it's starting to get more momentum than ever before. Solar-powered trailers, microgrids, battery storage, and hydrogen are all innovations that can significantly reduce emissions on set. Emissions from diesel generators have long hindered sustainable production, as they contribute a significant amount annually in the sector. As productions pilot and utilize renewable energy technology more throughout their processes, they will increase their chances of becoming self-sustaining (microgrids). In 2023, media giants such as Netflix and The Walt Disney Company created the Clean Mobile Power Initiative, whose purpose is to bring cost-effective and carbon-free energy to the entertainment industry. This enormous initiative makes decarbonization a closer reality across productions and studios going into 2024.
Equity Means for All
If the past year taught us anything, we must acknowledge and appreciate the integrity of those we get to work alongside. We saw what happens when workers feel undervalued, as was the catalyst for two historic strikes among writers and actors in Hollywood. In a world where streaming has become the norm for media, we have also seen the landscape change for those involved in the process. Better wages and more staffing are examples of how the entertainment industry will strive to make the storytelling process more equitable, especially as many seek to make the climate crisis center stage for the screen.
Collaborations for Mobilization
As mentioned, there is growing momentum in telling climate stories. Studios, organizations, activists, and the public are all coming together like never before. From Good Energy making climate narratives more mainstream to Earth Angel and the EMA Green Seal reducing the environmental impact of productions, we will see more dialogue that invites people from all sides to come together to make lasting change. Trust amongst stakeholders is crucial to making collaborations a reality. If studios are to accurately portray the problems and solutions to the climate crisis on screen, they will have to include individuals from all walks of life. The climate crisis is a challenge for everyone, which is why every individual has a role to play in its solution.
Leading by Example
Celebrity activists far and wide are declaring their mission to live more sustainably. At the previous EMA Awards, music icon Billie Eilish was honored by receiving the EMA Missions in Music Award for promoting environmentalism and the importance of adopting a sustainable lifestyle. Billie and her mother, EMA Honoree Maggie Baird, follow words with action through their nonprofit, Support and Feed. Many other artists and influential figures are starting to use their platforms to call for climate action and sustainable practices. For instance, artists such as EMA Co-Chair Lance Bass show promote sustainability in a relatable and imperfect way, showcasing that anyone can do their part and doesn't have to be perfect. Further, EMA Board Members Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder are showcasing a solution everyone can support, regenerative agriculture, through the documentary “Common Ground,” which won best documentary at the 33rd Annual EMA Awards.
In the summer of 2023, the directors of the Oscar-winning film “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” the Daniels, attended the Hollywood Climate Summit to voice their support for sustainability in the industry. As the wave of sustainability-minded celebrities and influencers rises on platforms such as Instagram and TikTok, we will see increased awareness and action to adapt to a warming climate in 2024
A Year of Climate Action
While we venture off into 2024, we find ourselves with curiosity, suspense, and, of course, excitement. Eco-innovations are in the works, persons of influence are willing to amplify their green message, and more corporations recognize the need to operate more sustainably. As the entertainment industry continues to be a beacon for cultural and societal influence, it can also continue to use that ability to share stories of living more ethically on screen and behind the scenes.
Hollywood is hearing the call in 2024, and the time is now! Stay tuned for our upcoming 2024 EMA IMPACT Summit, which will provide a deeper dive into how our industry is going green.
Written by Demitri Fierro, ISSP-SEA (MBA Sustainable Management).