October 2022 Newsletter
It's fitting to host the Environmental Media Awards outside under the stars. Those who have been with us for a while will remember the days at Warner Brothers, where we made our pleas for sustainability under the air that we fight so passionately to keep clean. That's why it felt like a consummation of our 32 years of hosting the event to be back on a historic studio lot, the beautiful Sunset Studios, under the brilliant lavender and champagne pink of a California sunset.
The event, presented by Toyota Motor North America, was one of our biggest yet, which is also fitting, considering the need for bold climate action has never been more urgent. One of our jobs at EMA is to bring together the right people so that the synergy of stories creates the same buzz for our planet as the premiere of a major motion picture. With over 28 BILLION media impressions and 35 million social media impressions, we are proud to say that the EMA Awards harnessed the elusive attention of the public where it needs to be: on our planet.
And who says saving the planet can't be fun? A reunion 22 years in the making saw EMA Board Member Wendie Malick and legendary funnyman David Spade, back on the stage as hosts. The gap in time since these two hosted wasn't lost on anyone, considering most of our current climate leaders weren't even born yet. The funny duo brought a much-needed sense of fun and wisdom to an event with profound implications. And even if David wanted to drop the "Environmental Mission Accomplished" banner prematurely, there was a sense of momentum that hadn't always been there. Between the activists in the room, our incredible lineup of nominees (see a complete list of nominees and winners here), and the recent signing of the IRA bill, we finally have the attention we need. It's up to us to show the world that we ALL benefit when we take climate action. As always, EMA never misses an opportunity to prove that point.
With all the doom & gloom regarding the planet, it's important to remind ourselves why we care. Yes, it would be easy to fall into distractions, put our heads in the sand, and let future generations deal with the problem. But thankfully, we have a common motivator that doesn't allow apathy: our families. At the heart of it, the environmental movement has always found strength and motivation from this source. Whether honoring our ancestors or ensuring a safe future for our babies, environmentalism has always been a family affair.
EMA CEO Debbie Levin highlighted this point from the stage "we are all here because we love our family. Family is why we care about tomorrow. All species were created to reproduce; thus, we are a planet of generations. We want them to be happy and healthy, have delicious and enriching food, and have clean water; we want them to have everything. Innovations in the industrial and technological sectors have given us a life that our grandparents wouldn't have dreamed possible. But it's wreaked havoc on our natural resources." Debbie's words rang extra impactful as she welcomed her granddaughter Stella Monkarsh as the evening's trophy presenter.
The theme continued with our outstanding Honorees. EMA Missions in Music Award Recipient Billie Eilish thanked her mom for inspiring her to use her massive platform to call for climate action and environmental justice.
"My mom has been the person that is always thinking about it in this way that I'm just so in awe of. I'm always trying to do what I think my mom would want me to do, and she's always thinking ahead and cares so much about the world, people, animals, and beings. I love my mom, and she's really the reason that I give a f@ck."
It didn't take long for the audience to share Billie's feelings as her mother, Maggie Baird, Founder of Support + Feed, took the stage and made us all "give a f@ck." And, motivated by motherly love, she will not let us stop until the crises are averted.
"I know that I was annoying, and I'm still annoying, and the crazy thing was you all went on to have these amazing talents and develop this enormous platform that let me finally do the thing that I wanted to do most, which was feed people and talk about climate change. Now I'm never going to shut up and leave you alone."
The evening recognized Billie and Maggie's efforts by including 'Overheated,' the compelling documentary by Support + Feed, in the Missions in Music Award. And since we are all about action, we challenge you to watch the documentary and take the one plant-based meal daily for 30 days pledge.
Continuing the family theme, EMA Board Member and Innovator Award Recipient Nikki Reed offered advice to the parents in the room: "We only protect what we love, so we really need to teach our kids to fall in love with nature."
Further, Nikki offers an excellent example for entrepreneurs to take familial empathy into commerce. Her eco-friendly lifestyle and jewelry brand, BaYou With Love, focuses on sustainable, ethical fashion and production, showing that the health of our family and planet is not negotiable regarding business practices and products.
We are grateful to all our Honorees and presenters for making the evening full of memorable and inspiring moments.
During her keynote speech, Diana Davis, General Manager, Toyota Los Angeles Region, made it clear that we were all on the same page, "all of us here tonight have chosen to support a conversation that champions sustainability."' But with the urgency of the issues, talk is cheap without action.
"We must do more than have a conversation; we must set the course with actions. For Toyota, our response is to reduce the company's carbon footprint by 90% before 2050. One major step is to invest $7 billion over the next eight years on carbon-reducing and carbon-neutral vehicles; over half of which we'll invest in electric vehicles."'
We also must be mindful that our solutions fit various lifestyles, which is why we showcased an array of Toyota's alternative-fuel vehicles at the venue. Having options plays a significant role in the transition to sustainable mobility for all!
Walking the walk is also essential to EMA's message, which was on full display as we recognized 132 EMA Gold Seals and 154 Green Seals for sustainable production. While storytelling is at the heart of our mission, we must make sure we are telling that story sustainably. Our Awards presented the perfect opportunity to showcase a sustainable Hollywood event. Our new friends, Hudson Pacific Partners, generously shared their carbon-neutral lot with us at Sunset Studios. Further, all three Sunset Studio lots in Hollywood have procured 100% renewable electricity on-site and off-site, offer vertical and pollinator gardens, and many other sustainable practices. As a result, we proudly announce they have achieved the first EMA Green Seal for a studio lot!
And, as Maggie mentioned, what's on the plate matters, too! So, we are grateful to Nic's on Beverly for the elegant vegan dinner, Santa Rita for the delicious and sustainable wine, Brother's Bond Bourbon, Pink Pig Tequila and Hera the Dog Vodka for the Eco-friendly spirits, and Monty's Good Burger for a tipsy vegan post-Awards snack.
"Young people have always been at the forefront of every social movement." EMA Activist Board Chair Wawa Gatheru led a lineup of fantastic activists throughout the evening, joining our celebrity Board Members onstage to present the evening's Awards. However, we know these activists aren't "future" leaders; they're already leading the current moment! That's why it's critical for EMA's mission to include their voices and input in our work moving forward.
We urge all of you to learn more about our EMA Activist Board Members, follow them on social, and support their work. Also, you can donate to help EMA establish a Content Creator Fund for 2023, so we can work directly with our Activists on educational and shareable monthly content.
"With the show, we made six disaster movies but with a twist. In the final act, we show how everything can be great with...science!" Bill Nye, winner of Best Reality TV for The End Is Nye – "The Volcano Paradox", reminded us that we can solve our pressing environmental issues if we listen to the scientists. And for an example of what happens when we don't, watch our Feature Film Winner, Don't Look Up.
We at EMA are committed to telling science-focused stories that provoke and support activism, which is why the messaging at the year's Awards felt like a culmination of what we've been saying for decades.
It shouldn't be surprising that putting on a major Hollywood Awards show takes a lot of people, time, and effort. We are humbled and grateful for the incredible friends who put their hearts and souls into this event each year. For the production, we would like to thank our long-time collaborator David Wild for finding the funny in a climate disaster, our incredible DJ Samantha Ronson for getting everyone on the dance floor (we saw those moves, Bill Nye), SenovvA for the Oscar-worthy AV production, the accommodating staff at Sunset Studios, Eli and his team at ESE Lifestyle for making sustainability elegant, our volunteers, and the excellent EMA team. Further, we must thank the endless support of our Board, who add so much passion, guidance, and energy into all we do.
Finally, the EMA Awards wouldn't be possible without our sponsors. We are so lucky at EMA to have a lineup of sponsors led by our long-time friends at Toyota Motor North America, who are as committed to telling the sustainability story as we are.
