The 2023 Hollywood Climate Summit brought together influential figures in the entertainment industry to discuss environmentalism and its impact on their work and the culture at large. Over the course of two days, celebrities such as Jane Fonda, Quinta Brunson, and Daniels (Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert) took part in conversations and panels centered around addressing climate change. The event, held at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills, began with a keynote conversation titled “We’re All In: Why You Should Be Excited About the Hollywood Climate Movement,” featuring Brunson, Kwan, and Scheinert.
Jonathan Wang, producer of the film “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” opened the event by acknowledging the small steps that had been taken in his film to promote sustainability, such as hiring an eco-coordinator and donating leftover food to farms or homeless shelters. However, he emphasized that these efforts were not enough and called for a more significant scale-up in the industry’s sustainability practices.
The conversation between Brunson and Daniels, moderated by Earth Angel CEO Emellie O’Brien, focused on their personal journeys in the entertainment industry and their desire to create meaningful work. Kwan reflected on their start in the digital space, chasing viral moments, before realizing that they wanted to make a difference with their projects. Brunson shared a similar sentiment, expressing her desire to integrate important messages into her work gradually and subtly.
One aspect that Brunson highlighted was the intersection of race and the climate crisis, stating that while many people are focused on race-related issues, not enough attention is given to the climate crisis in conjunction with race. She mentioned Michael Jackson’s “Earth Song” and Pixar’s “Wall-E” as influential works that made her reconsider the state of the planet. Brunson believed that incorporating climate messaging into entertainment, even in seemingly lighthearted ways, can spark curiosity and engagement among viewers who may not otherwise be interested in environmental issues.
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Scheinert emphasized the importance of finding environmental measures that both enhance the filmmaking process and benefit the planet. He and Kwan actively seek ways to make their sets more sustainable, engaging in conversations with department heads to ensure that their requests align with their colleagues’ needs and do not negatively impact the film production process. Brunson shared a similar experience on the set of “Abbott Elementary,” where she advocated for cutting plastic water bottles and offering reusable alternatives. By involving the below-the-line crew members and addressing their concerns, she was able to effect change and promote sustainability on set.
Brunson also discussed her approach to integrating environmental storylines into “Abbott Elementary,” stressing the importance of not overwhelming the audience with heavy-handed messaging. She conducts research with her family to strike a balance between entertaining and educating viewers. By incorporating climate-related references into the show’s dialogue, she hopes to create moments that spark curiosity and prompt further exploration of climate-related topics.
Later in the day, Jane Fonda led a panel titled “Hollywood’s Time to Take on Big Oil and Gas,” featuring climate activists Nalleli Cobo, YoNasDa Lonewolf, and Sylvia Arredondo, as well as environmental reporter Emily Atkin. The discussion focused on the fight to end the use of fossil fuels and the disproportionate impact of the fossil fuel industry on marginalized communities. Fonda emphasized that the industry deliberately targets communities of color, indigenous communities, and economically disadvantaged communities that lack political power. She highlighted the need to address both environmental injustice and racial inequality in the fight against climate change.
Fonda also touched on Senate Bill 1137, a California law passed in 2022 that temporarily bans new oil and gas wells near residential areas, schools, and other community sites. The law is currently on hold and will be put to a referendum vote in 2024. Fonda warned that if the oil industry succeeds in overturning the law, it could set a dangerous precedent and undermine democracy. She called on attendees to actively oppose any attempts to weaken environmental regulations and protect the progress made in the fight against climate change.
The 2023 Hollywood Climate Summit provided a platform for influential figures in the entertainment industry to discuss and strategize ways to address climate change. By sharing their experiences and perspectives, individuals like Jane Fonda, Quinta Brunson, and Daniels hope to inspire sustainable practices within the industry and encourage broader cultural conversations around environmentalism.
