From Watts Up With That?

It’s Hollywood again – the land of dreams and grand narratives – preparing to host another edition of its self-appointed and glamorous Hollywood Climate Summit. The purpose, we are told, is to tackle climate change head-on and prompt the entertainment industry to drive this message home.

Hollywood Climate Summit

The Hollywood Climate Summit is an annual multi-day conference that creates a community space for thousands of cross-sector entertainment and media professionals to take action on climate. We gather filmmakers, executives, artists, activists, climate organizations, scientists, and other experts for interactive action-oriented programming and professional development opportunities. Our main conference is located in Los Angeles, and we’ll have hybrid workshops and virtual networking opportunities for international audiences. https://www.hollywoodclimatesummit.com/

It’s the season of celebrity activism, with the big names of the silver screen poised to lend their voices to the cause of climate change. The two-time Academy Award-winning actress, Jane Fonda, is set to speak at the event, following her various efforts to raise awareness on the topic, from her ‘Fire Drill Fridays’ protest movement to the books she has authored. Do these high-profile gatherings ever actually aid the supposed cause they claim to represent or are they merely performative virtue signaling under the guise of environmental concern?

Let’s first understand that climate change is a complex issue that few if any of these high-paid mannequins remotely understand. It involves scientific theories and models that attempt to predict long-term global effects, and these predictions vary widely and are far from being certain, as well as often being downright wrong. While some alarmist researchers warn of impending catastrophe, (ie. Mann) others are more sedate and either believe whatever minor changes that might be occurring are part of ordinary natural fluctuations, (Soon) or are not happening at anything close to a catastrophic pace (Pielke Jr).

It’s critical to remember that economic and political interests play a significant role in shaping the public narrative on climate change.

The Hollywood Climate Summit, now in its fourth year, is a glossy and high-profile event. With a multitude of celebrities, filmmakers, scientists, and activists, the summit aims to “change the industry’s culture” and leverage the entertainment industry’s global influence. However, there is a need to question if these events, with their star power and glitz, are truly about effecting tangible change or are they mere vehicles for strutting their environmental Bonafide’s while propagating a set of partisan policy preferences and ideologies.

Looking closely at the agenda and the narrative they are promoting. One of the key discussions led by Fonda will revolve around SB1137, a California bill set for the 2024 ballot, aiming to heavily regulate oil and gas well proximity to homes and various other locations. This will likely lead to significant economic setbacks and job losses in the state without a clear replacement strategy. This will likely exacerbate poverty and negatively impact livelihoods, creating a new different set of problems and misery.

Such celebrity-endorsed events also conveniently sidestep the fact that the entertainment industry itself contributes significantly to carbon emissions – whether through extensive traveling, energy-intensive film productions, or lavish lifestyles. The hypocrisy raises the question: how much are the stars willing to change their own habits and lifestyles to genuinely combat the supposed climate emergency?

It’s vital to differentiate between genuine dialogue and publicity-driven events. We must critically assess the narratives presented to us and remain wary of attempts to manipulate public opinion for specific policy agendas. The world is complex, and the climate is no exception. Solutions for any actual problems are likely to be found in unbiased scientific research, technological innovation, and adaptive management strategies rather than in star-studded, agenda-driven events.

HT/Mumbles McGuirk