As global warming passes the 1.5° C threshold set in the 2015 Paris Climate Accords, new climate narratives are urgently needed with every new increment of warming.
DGA teams create dramatic narratives that inspire our imaginations and influence perceptions of reality. Our stories change our behavior. For example, storylines from the television series Cheers brought the idea of a “designated driver” into a lifesaving wide-spread practice.
Yet, as we race against time to meet the climate crisis, data has revealed a “climate silence” in our entertainment. Director Adam McKay, of the star-studded film Don’t Look Up, founded Yellow Dot Studios to make short films that challenge the greenwashing of oil and gas companies like ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, and Chevron. Congressional investigations in 2022 revealed that these companies knew decades ago that their fossil fuel products would lead to catastrophic climate impacts. And they continue to spend billions of dollars casting doubt on climate science, misleading the public, and fomenting climate inaction.
It’s time to lean away from dystopian climate stories that create feelings of helplessness, supporting climate denial in the form of psychological distancing and inaction. We can be leaders by embracing storytelling as a climate solution. We have the knowledge, technology and talent to re-imagine a world more climate resilient than the one we currently inhabit — one with inspiring characters tackling climate issues, supporting front-line communities, normalizing climate-positive behaviors, and with systems based on renewable and clean energy.
And change is coming. An emerging movement across the entertainment industry is working to normalize talking about climate in popular entertainment. Trained environmental consultants are working with studios and content creators to consider a spectrum of approaches to integrate climate into our stories.
From adding smaller climate mentions, climate friendly behaviors, character jobs, and narrative plot twists — to larger thematic storylines — these approaches can be tailored to any genre, storyline, feature or television series.
As storytellers we have a vital role to play. Together we can learn how to access and analyze systems of science-based research and innovation and build new muscles for future thinking and storytelling to service a wide range of artistic visions.
Check out the Sustainable Future Committee's Pro-Tips section on Climate Storytelling for resources and more ways to explore creating climate conscious content. NRDC offers script reviews and supports storytellers with access to scientists and experts.
Click here for more about the DGA Sustainable Future Committee.
