Members of the marketing team reflect on major learnings from the Hollywood Climate Summit.

by Kylie Holloway and Chris Fanelli

The Hollywood Climate Summit is an annual gathering for media professionals to expand their climate knowledge, spark collaborations, and deepen their storytelling capabilities in communicating about this important issue. Chris Fanelli and Kylie Holloway from the Ethic studio spent four days rubbing shoulders with producers, writers, and storytellers who represent the leading voices in climate communication — including friends of Ethic Kristy Drutman and Rollie Williams, both of whom have appeared in our show Day Before Tomorrow. Panel topics ranged from communicating climate change to the next generation and exposing the “Mad Men” of big oil to spotlighting local stories in the climate fight. It was an engaging and exciting experience with so many takeaways. Here, we highlight some of the key learnings we gathered for wealth advisors, investors, and fellow media professionals communicating about this vital issue. 

Unlock understanding through curiosity. Science communicator and (in his words) “famed mechanical engineer” Bill Nye emphasized the importance of curiosity in fostering understanding. "We are in charge of a whole planet, we need to manage it," he said. "That takes understanding, and understanding takes curiosity.” Climate change can be a hot button and alienating topic to dive into. It may be more effective to begin by finding out what your audience is innately curious about and connect with them on that level. 

For example, if your audience is excited about something as simple as cooking good food, maybe you can use their interest in fresh vegetables or high quality ingredients to kick-start a conversation about how we continue to make those things accessible through sustainable agriculture. Curiosity leads to deeper connections and understanding, and can soften difficult conversations about a daunting issue. 

One panel guest, Maggie Baird, embodies this approach in her activism. Baird, founder of Support + Feed and mother to Grammy Award-winning artists Billie Eilish and Finneas, discussed her journey into climate activism, which started in her youth when she made the connection between climate change and animal agriculture. Support + Feed provides nourishing plant-based meals for underserved communities across the United States. Fellow panel guest Brad Wieners, editorial director at Patagonia, endorsed that sort of specified work as smart and effective climate work. He emphasized the collective exhaustion of trying to tackle something as large as the world's climate crisis, stressing that specified work within a field of interest or passion can be the most effective way to contribute.

Use simple equivalencies. In a panel on effectively communicating about a clean energy future, Jennifer M. Granholm, U.S. Secretary of the Department of Energy, was joined by director Patty Jenkins (Wonder Woman). While the pairing was unexpected to say the least, we did glean a valuable piece of advice that we already emulate at Ethic — the use of simple equivalencies to make complex topics more relatable. 

One example Secretary Granholm used was to explain the building of solar capacity “in terms of Hoover dams." Tangible, familiar equivalencies can help the public grasp the scale and impact of renewable energy projects. This approach can demystify technical subjects and make them more accessible to a broader audience.

Leave cynicism at the door: Vulnerability and action. The producers and hosts of the Drilled podcast partnered with the Carmack Collective on a panel on the role of big business in climate disinformation. Here, panelists collectively stressed the importance of vulnerability in environmental communication. "The two places that don’t require action or vulnerability are hopelessness and having your head in the sand," one speaker noted. Embracing vulnerability is challenging but essential for genuine engagement and meaningful action. The pathway to vulnerability begins with leaving cynicism at the door and creating a space where hopeful and constructive conversations around impact can take place.

Don’t be afraid of repetition. At the same panel, the speakers addressed the long history of advertising industries that have negatively impacted the environment. Specifically, they noted that while communication about sustainability is about 100 years behind oil and gas advertising, the key to catching up lies in good, clear, and reliable communication. 

One panelist said, “Our job is harder than the people communicating that nothing needs to change,” which was incredibly resonant for our team. The work of communicating impact is difficult. So on that note, don’t be afraid of repetition; it can take a while for a message to get through." Changing the methods of communication without altering the core message can help reinforce important narratives and drive change.

Allow for duality. Host of America Outdoors and former Daily Show producer Baratunde Thurston said something that really struck a chord with the team. He likened the current crisis to "a funeral and baby shower at the same time." He spoke about the need to balance grief over what has been lost with hope and excitement for what can be accomplished. 

Thurston advised allowing for nondualism, recognizing that we can hold multiple emotions and perspectives simultaneously. It’s important to recognize that there is frustration and disappointment in the fight to build a better future. However, allowing for excitement and joy over our victories and the inspirational work of so many climate leaders is also crucial for maintaining momentum and motivation in environmental advocacy.

Take part in a growing community. Perhaps the largest takeaway from the summit is the paramount need for climate-related content. Whether it's documenting the work being done in frontline communities, representing the realities of climate change in narrative content, or demystifying the science behind climate, there is an urgent need for content creators of all sizes to make their voices heard in the fight against climate change. Networks, grantmakers, and scientists are eager to work with creators to harness the power of storytelling in the effort to address a changing climate.

This summit provided a wealth of strategies and perspectives for those involved in communicating impact in the climate crisis. By fostering curiosity, embracing authenticity, balancing complex emotions, simplifying communication, and maintaining vulnerability, we can more effectively engage investors and inspire action towards a sustainable future.

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