BAFTA supports critical climate talks

A number of high profile names have joined the BAFTA albert sustainability initiative in calling for an international agreement on climate change at the United Nations COP21 conference in Paris, which opens today. BAFTA CEO Amanda Berry, and COO Kevin Price were amongst a number of figures in the creative industries to sign a letter to Laurent Fabius, the French foreign minister who will be president of the talks. This will be presented to the climate negotiators in Paris and aims to petition governments to agree on carbon reduction targets that will collectively limit the future global warming to below 2.0 C.

The move, initiated by sustainable culture charity Julie's Bicycle and championed by albert has already garnered support from signatories from across the creative sector including TV and film including Danny Cohen, director of television at the BBC; Alex Beard, CEO, Royal Opera House; John Kampfner of the Creative Industries Federation; Rosemary Mangope, CEO, National Arts Council of South Africa; Amanda Nevill, CEO, BFI; actors Alistair McGowan, Thandie Newton, Steve Coogan and Emma Thompson; and musicians Coldplay, Radiohead, David Bowie and Yoko Ono.

Without rapid and ubiquitous action the world is facing a huge crisis, said Aaron Matthews, industry sustainability manager for the albert project. We are determined to support the whole creative sector by calling for a realistic and achievable climate deal from the international community. TV is a vital part of the UK's cultural heritage and has a lot of work to do to reduce its carbon footprint but this Manifesto represents a major step forward in raising awareness of what needs to happen for the benefit of us all.

The letter states that the creative industries - including broadcast - can make a unique contribution to the global sustainability challenge.' It continues: The creative industries generate wealth and employment but we also innovate, we shape and express cultural values, influencing how people feel and the choices they make: as such we have huge potential to prompt, and reinforce, positive and sustainable change.'

In partnership with other creative industry groups, albert recognises the critical need to reduce human's damaging environmental impacts, especially climate change. The BAFTA albert consortium champions sustainable TV production, seeks to reduce the industry's carbon footprint, facilitates the exchange of information among the production community, and to raises on-screen awareness through editorial portrayal.

www.bafta.org/initiatives/sustainability

LINK:	http://www.tvbeurope.com/bafta-supports-critical-climate-talks/...
	See more stories from tvb

Most recent headlines