Lights, camera, climate action

Like most major players across the economy, leading M&E companies have pledged to achieve net-zero emissions in the coming years or decades. Those that move toward that target will also realize substantial financial gains and become more competitive.

By looking for areas in their own operations and value chains that are ripe for change and applying technology to cut emissions, M&E businesses can get ahead of the curve and prepare for further reductions down the line. Together with their role in educating the public, such measures will be the key to a prosperous and successful future for the M&E industry.

The M&E industry has the influence and momentum to reach its sustainability goals and turn them into a driver for success. As an industry that touches both the emotional and practical aspects of our lives, media & entertainment (M&E) has a significant role to play in building and sustaining the net-zero economy. It has two primary responsibilities; like other industries, it must quickly reduce and, ultimately, eliminate its carbon footprint. But its particular role in society also means it enjoys a unique opportunity to influence viewers, readers and consumers to adopt sustainable behaviors.

Consumers, employees and new reporting requirements and regulations are pushing M&E companies to change how they do business. From publishing to studios to digital advertising, every company is feeling the heat, and for good reason—in publishing alone, the vast majority of the industry’s emissions result from manufacturing, transport and distribution.

Carbon emissions are driven by paper, printing and binding. Moving toward digital downloads of books, newspapers and journals does not necessarily translate into higher levels of sustainability. The more data we consume, the more energy we use, increasing our carbon footprint. If the internet were a country, it would be the 7th largest polluter in the world. Streaming is also associated with substantial greenhouse gas emissions.  Studios have a direct climate impact, as well— from the energy needed to power sets, cameras, lighting and facilities to post-production and costumes, it all adds up.