International Journal of Sustainable Development, Hollywood, The Cove, Mr. Stevens, Leonardo DiCaprio, Before the Flood, National Geographic documentary, Roland Emmerich, The Day After Tomorrow, Environmental Media Association, Debbie Levin

Environment

Can Hollywood change People’s view on Climate Change?

by Yash Saboo October 9 2017, 5:34 pm Estimated Reading Time: 2 mins, 57 secs

Research published in the International Journal of Sustainable Development suggests that purportedly entertaining films that feature global warming and climate change can affect public understanding. But films are often bound up in problematic and limiting identity politics, which commonly reiterate racial, gender and sexual stereotypes positioning as they do white men as being the decision makers and the voice of authority.

A lot of Hollywood movies approached themes related to global warming and how the end of the world is coming due to human activities that damage the planet. However, the real concern is what the impact of Hollywood movies on climate change is. Many TV and movie makers tried to tell the story of the world ending because of climate change.

“As opposed to terrorism or drugs, there is no clear enemy with climate change,” he said. “We’re all participating in the climate crisis — if there is an enemy, it’s us. And it’s hard to go to war against ourselves.”

And when climate change is depicted on screen, it’s often in an onslaught of fire and brimstone, an apocalyptic vision that hardly leaves room for a hopeful human response.

Mr. Stevens, who won an Oscar in 2010 as a producer of ‘The Cove’, a documentary about dolphin-hunting, used the star power of Leonardo DiCaprio for his latest environmental film, ‘Before the Flood’, which examined global warming in a way Mr. Stevens hoped would inspire viewers to change their habits. A 2016 National Geographic documentary, it found a sizable streaming and digital audience.

Leonardo Di Caprio addresses the audience, "You are the last best hope of Earth. We ask you to protect it or us, and all living things we cherish our history".

But getting Hollywood movies about climate change made is not easy. And when they do refer to it — as did the Roland Emmerich 2004 disaster flick “The Day After Tomorrow” — they rarely do much to galvanize the public to action. Even well-intentioned filmmakers with carefully drafted cautionary tales often miss the mark, climate scientists say.

“The term ‘climate change’ isn’t as sexy and ‘script friendly’ as most plotlines,” said Debbie Levin, president of the Environmental Media Association. The solution, some researchers said, was to employ a bit of misdirection. “Agriculture, water issues, environmental justice,” Ms. Levin said. “Those all are big issues that work really well dramatically without saying the words ‘climate change.’”

One bright spot in showing environmental alarm onscreen is children’s programs, Ms. Levin said, which “works beautifully for everyday practices and overall awareness. Parents often watch with them, and they learn together.” And climate change is a frequent topic of visual artists and writers, where the genre known as cli-fi is growing.

Maybe, the way these movies look at climate change will inspire policymakers and all the viewers around the world to protect our planet. It is not that hard to change our habits for the better of this environment. However, it is not easy to make Hollywood movies on climate change. Nevertheless, even if some of the most skilled filmmakers and producers succeed to refer to this global problem, the public may not act accordingly.

When climate change is depicted on screen, it’s often an apocalyptic vision of fire and brimstone. To mobilize people to act, Hollywood is trying to balance a sense of urgency with the doom-and-gloom.