“Good Energy: Transforming Climate Crisis into Mainstream Storytelling for Entertainment Professionals”

Good Energy, a nonprofit storytelling consultancy, is on a mission to make climate storytelling a mainstream narrative for all audiences, particularly within the entertainment industry. Founded by Anna Jane Joyner in 2019, Good Energy aims to help writers and entertainment professionals address the climate crisis with confidence.

The idea behind Good Energy stemmed from a glaring question posed by Joyner: why is the climate crisis largely absent from our screens? Despite the significant impact that the entertainment industry has had on societal changes in the past, mentions of climate change in scripted entertainment have been minimal. While documentaries and apocalyptic narratives have touched on the subject, there has been a lack of nuanced and accurate representation of the climate crisis in mainstream media.

In collaboration with the USC Norman Lear Center’s Media Impact Project, Good Energy released a groundbreaking analysis titled “Glaring Absence: The Climate Crisis Is Virtually Nonexistent in Scripted Entertainment.” The study, which analyzed 37,453 TV and movie scripts from 2016-2020, found that less than 3 percent of scripted TV and film acknowledged climate change. This lack of representation is concerning, considering that a majority of viewers reported learning about social issues from fictional TV or film.

To address this gap, Good Energy developed resources such as workshops, consulting services, and “The Playbook for Storytelling in the Age of Climate Change.” This comprehensive digital tool helps creative teams develop climate narratives that are both ethical and accurate. The Playbook has been embraced by industry partners, screenwriters, and students alike.

Good Energy has worked with prominent clients such as Apple TV+, CBC, CBS, Showtime, and Spotify, and has been featured in nearly 50 media outlets over the past two years. The agency’s efforts are not only aimed at raising awareness about the climate crisis but also at inspiring positive action and change through storytelling.

The importance of integrating climate narratives into society’s storytelling fabric cannot be overstated. As climate change impacts become more frequent and severe, it is crucial for viewers to see characters and stories that reflect our current reality. By showcasing the effects of climate change on screen, viewers may feel less alone and more inspired to take action.

In a world where climate change affects every living being and every corner of the earth, storytelling has the power to unite us in addressing this universal challenge. Good Energy’s work exemplifies the transformative potential of storytelling in shaping a more sustainable and resilient future for all.

Published Mar 8, 2024 2pm EST / 11am PST / 7pm GMT / 8pm CET

Written by Demitri Fierro, a sustainability consultant and MBA graduate in Sustainable Solutions, who is dedicated to bringing sustainable solutions to storytelling and media.