Four Things I Learned at the 2023 Hollywood Climate Summit
The summer season is officially here! While many are heading to the beach, traveling, or hitting the gym for the perfect sun-kissed selfie, others use this time to bring attention to climate change. Moreover, the wildfires and excessive heat remind us that climate change isn't going anywhere for the summer!
This June, the 4th annual Hollywood Climate Summit was held to address these growing concerns and amplify the voices of those wishing to use the power of storytelling to help our planet. The yearly event is an international multi-day conference that brings together a variety of entertainment, media, and environmental professionals as they come together to mobilize action, collaboration, and movement toward climate solutions. The summit featured various panels, workshops, interactive discussions, and mixers. Kicking us off the right way, attendees heard from 'The Daniels,' the versatile and dynamic duo behind directing the Oscar winner for Best Picture Everything Everywhere All at Once and learning about their journey to get where they are and how they have always prioritized people over success.
In an industry that reaches billions across the planet and shapes popular culture, there is much opportunity to use this influence to promote inclusivity and equity in a climate-resilient future. Thankfully, organizations such as EMA and YEA! Impact set the bar high for sustainability in Hollywood.
Check out my four takeaways from the Hollywood Climate Summit 2023 in this empowering EMA exclusive.
Climate Change is a Universal Issue
Coming off the exciting keynote by The Daniels, I was instantly reminded climate change affects every one of us. Therefore, we find solutions by coming together. We do this through acknowledgment, respect, and valuing of the other person. The graceful Daniel Kwan said it best when he shared that "when you treat your people right, they will pay it back 3 or 4 times more." Every one of us has witnessed the power stories have in moving us toward action, and Kwan highlighted the reality that there is no special calvary coming to save us; we are the calvary. That's incredibly powerful in knowing that while we have responsibility over the predicament we find ourselves in, we also can bring ourselves out of it. There is power in unity, and seeing climate change as a human rights issue, free from affecting only one group, lets us see how crucial empathy is to create collaboration. Kwan said, "We have to address the core issues of our ego before we can move forward." I couldn't agree more! During the panel Hollywood's Time to Take on Big Oil and Gas, the legendary Jane Fonda (2018 EMA Lifetime Achievement Honoree) added that the entertainment industry could and should be a more direct driver for sustainable solutions, sharing that "all of our brilliance has been misused. Let's reclaim it. Hollywood can lead the way."
Hollywood is an important tool that has the potential to showcase our real value as human beings. Well said, Jane!
The Youth are Leading the Way
When we think of what we are doing today and how it will affect society tomorrow, we usually miss the point that all we do is already being felt today. Gen Z has been hailed as the most aware generation in history when it comes to social causes, and as such, they are highly active in finding ways to bring solutions to the forefront. During the panel Not a Future Generation's Problem: Intergenerational Conversations Around Climate, activist, founder, and fellow EMA Activist Board Member Genesis Butler mentioned that Gen Z is not afraid to use their voice, adding that "Gen Z doesn't want to be tomorrow's leaders, they want to be leaders today!" Younger generations, including the tail end of the Millennial generation, have experienced tremendous shifts in society. From the rise of social media in becoming part of everyday life to multiple economic downturns and now surviving a global pandemic, today's youth has shown to be more adaptable, resilient, and determined than the generations before them. All traits of effective leaders in my book.
Climate solutions rely on effective organizing, something younger generations know much about through the frequency of both online and in-person gatherings. As the IPCC states, we have six years until the concerning effects of climate change become irreversible; we must bring everyone into the conversation early on. There is much wisdom to be shared across generations, both old and young.
Creating New Systems Around Equity
While every piece of insight shared was very impactful, a common theme I noticed across panels and discussions was the focus on social justice within climate solutions. On day one of the summit, the idea of systems and equity was already brought into the conversation by highlighting that today's systems no longer serve us. Being precise and intentional about what we are doing is agreed upon by all speakers across panels. For example, Jane Fonda and others on her panel shed light on the historical racism of the environmental movement, putting poor People of Color at risk in sacrifice zones. Indigenous panelists then shared that when activists protested over the Dakota Access Pipeline, documentarians and journalists cut them out of their footage and reports to fit their narrative.
By now, it is no secret that people disproportionately affected by climate change are still mistreated. New systems cannot be equitable without including humanity, a sentiment shared during the Justice in Our Way Forward: Climate Aspirations, Adaptions and Innovations panel.
The panel Reframing Our Way of Being illustrated how vital indigenous knowledge shapes just systems. As one of the speakers pointed out, indigenous people do much with the bit of access to resources they have. Wisdom from centuries ago can be taught in today's climate crisis and inform these new systems. By listening to others' lived experiences and looking at who is not yet in the room, we can build mental models that embed equity throughout.
We are seeing, in some cases for the first time, people creating human-centered systems focused on the individual, as each of us brings the capacity to lead institutional change. As our EMA Activist Board Members exemplify, everyone can do something, no matter how small.
Everyone is a Storyteller and a Climate Hero
Finally, this takeaway was personal, as I strive to be the hero of my own story. We have entered an age where authenticity and accountability are becoming the highest currency forms. Crafting and supporting a narrative that shows your whole self is precious. A critical topic on the panel Decolonizing Climate Storytelling: From Hip Hop 50 to Land Black was that we can connect and motivate others wherever we are. 2021 EMA Honoree Reverend Lennox Yearwood, President and CEO of Hip Hop Caucus, shared some impactful words that filled the room with emotion, such as "all mediums, including music, have the power to reflect the stories of our time." This hit home for me! I, too, believe that stories can shape our societies, changing our systems and behaviors. The best thing is that we can all participate in the community from now on.
The time for authentic, heartfelt stories around climate change and social equity couldn't be more pivotal. I was astounded to learn that between 2016-2020, only 2.8% of scripted content was related to climate, with only 0.6% of storytelling having embedded climate narratives. Very disappointing! Whether in the entertainment industry or elsewhere, I hope many more of us recognize the talents already in our possession to connect and inspire each other effectively.
All the incredible activists genuinely moved me as thought leaders and empathetic individuals I was fortunate to cross paths with during the summit. As I said when I attended the 2022 EMA Awards, storytelling is so powerful to save our planet, and your story matters! I am grateful for how far we have come and hope for what we will continue to achieve. We got this!
Learn more about the 2023 Hollywood Climate Summit here.
Written by Demitri Fierro, ISSP-SEA (MBA Sustainable Management)