Reducing Emissions on Film and TV Sets: Crews Propose Ideas
Author: News Desk
The film and television industry is notorious for its high carbon emissions, with diesel generators being a major contributor. However, members of IATSE Local 728 are working to change that by exhibiting sustainable power solutions for film and television sets. The showcase, organized by the union’s Eco Committee, exhibited portable power stations, an electric camera car, and large zero-emission batteries from companies including Moxion Power, Grip Trix, FlashFish, and Goal Zero at IATSE Local 80’s headquars in Burbank.
The goal of the event was to help members of the labor group learn how to use cleaner power sources in the regular course of their work and encourage them to advocate for their use on set. Despite the efforts of some studio sustainability programs, emission-spewing diesel generators remain the industry standard. A 2021 report by the Sustainable Production Alliance found that fuel use from transportation and power sources like diesel generators was the largest contributing factor to carbon emissions on feature films, one-hour scripted dramas, and single-camera series.
Organizers believe that the time to begin incorporating this emerging technology onto film sets at large is now, even if these innovations aren’t perfect. With California setting a goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2045, “it seems like, even outside of our own desire to push this technology, that it will become an inevitability,” said Schwartz. And Sony Group has implemented its own climate plan, with the goal of having “zero environmental footprint” by 2050, Sony vp sustainability John Rego told THR in March.