— Written by Lyle Jarvis

Climate Was Snubbed… again 😒

Every year ahead of the big show, buzz starts to swirl around the nominees. While climate change was making headlines this year, it wasn’t for a reason you’d hope for. Instead, big media platforms like Variety, and the LA Times have already begun reporting on the lack of competition for films involving the climate crisis.

For the second year in a row, Good Energy, a nonprofit consulting firm ran the nominated films through their Climate Reality Check – a self-described list of criteria measuring if a film, put simply, acknowledges global warming. Disappointingly, only one film from this year’s nominees, “The Wild Robot”, passed the test, down from 3 films at the 2024 Oscars.

The climate silence comes after Hollywood found itself face-to-face with the impacts of a climate-fueled disaster earlier this year when fires decimated big parts of the city. Maybe a few years from now, the real-life reminder of the crisis we’re living through will find its way to the screen – but for now, representation is bleak.

More optimistically, Good Energy’s reporting suggests that climate change is, in fact, a profitable avenue on screen. Out of the 220 films with theatrical releases they surveyed, the films that passed the Climate Reality Check grossed higher at the box office than films that didn’t. And a study they did with USC found that nearly half (48%) of audience members say they want to see more shows and films related to the climate crisis “some” or “very much.” Another 30% were neutral.

It’s clear the demand is there – and we’re excited for Hollywood to eventually catch on.

Anyway, Our Oscar Goes To…🕴

Although it didn’t make it past the shortlist stage, we loved the short doc, Planetwalker.

Planetwalker follows Dr. John Francis, whose nickname is the film’s namesake after he spent 22 years roaming the Americas without motorized transportation. He also went voluntarily silent for 17. Having witnessed the disastrous oil spill in San Francisco in 1971, Dr. Francis was impacted heavily. Emerging from his travels, he’s since become a renowned environmentalist.

The SF oil spill was disastrous, and left a wide range of consequences. Among them, it was reported that 7,000 birds were affected. In the wake of such a tragedy, Dr. Francis set out on a decades-long journey. During that time, he founded Planetwalk, a non-profit environmental awareness organization, received three degrees from three different universities, sailed and walked through the Caribbean, Venezuela, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile.

Director duo Dominic and Nadia Gill created Planetwalker as a compelling, storytelling masterclass of Dr. Francis’s travels. You can watch it here, courtesy of the LA Times.

Honorable Mentions:

Burning Injustice is a powerful short doc following John Mataka and Bianca Lopez, Latino activists exposing the toxic pollution and devastating health impacts of one of the last trash incinerators in California. The film, a beautifully crafted story, follows their efforts to close the facility once and for all. You can stream it on YouTube here.

These also caught our eye: Check out these trailers for other films released in the last few years. They’re available to rent if you want to support independent documentary filmmaking:

Patrol tells the story of an Indigenous community in Nicaragua, defending their rainforests from the deforestation brought by cattle farms. (A very un-fun fact: animal agriculture is the largest cause of biodiversity loss in the world) Watch the trailer here.

Across the world, fish farming is threatening native species, ecosystems, and local community livelihoods. Our Waters is about a small, rural town in Maine standing up against industrial-scale salmon farming. You can watch the trailer here.

🚨Fire Drill: Preparing for Climate Disaster🚨

On the topic of climate disasters (and the LA wildfires in particular), tips around emergency preparedness are top of mind. We’ve gathered a few tips to help you feel more prepared for a climate emergency that go beyond “pack a go bag.” (We know you’ve got that covered. 😉)

1. First, snap a few photos and videos. 🤳 Documenting what's in your home can help with insurance claims, since many insurance companies will request a record of what you lost. Use your phone to create a record of your belongings, including closets, drawers, cabinets and garages.

2. Check in on your coverage 📞 Climate-related disasters are on the rise, which means insurance companies are shuffling to adapt. Nonrenewals are also on the rise across the U.S., meaning insurance companies are backing out of their policies to stave off climate-related losses. As this article from Yale Climate Connections puts it, “nobody’s insurance rates are safe from climate change.” To make sure your bases are covered, contact your insurance agent for an annual checkup. Make sure your home information is up to date, understand what your coverage is, and ask about any upcoming policy changes.

3. Meet the neighbors. 👋 They don’t have to become your new best friends. Just a friendly wave can be the start of establishing important connections in the event of a disaster. In fact, research from Purdue University suggests communities with stronger social connection can recover faster from weather-related disasters. And, quoting a piece we read from Grist, Meeting Your Neighbors is a Climate Solution.

Okay, you’ve committed mental resources to preparing and planning. Now go enjoy a warm beverage of your choice and check “climate disaster worry” off your to do list for the day. ☕

What We’re Watching 🎥, Reading 📚, and Listening to 🎧

Searching for more positive and informative climate content? Look no further!

🎥 Make My Money Matter, a UK-based non-profit working to decarbonize the finance and banking sector, put out this brilliant ad to explore fossil-free banking! Watch it here.

📚 I Was A Climate Skeptic. Here’s What Changed My Mind. (Atmos)