Through our involvement with the Sustainable Entertainment Alliance, we are working with studios, streamers, guilds and unions to advance more sustainable production practices. The goal is straightforward: Share what is working, and make it easier for teams to adopt these approaches at scale. That includes everything from energy use to materials to day-to-day production decisions that, taken together, have real impact. We are also supporting efforts at the state level that better align production incentives with sustainable practices. Production decisions are driven by economics, and bringing sustainability into that equation matters.
At the same time, this is not just about production. It is also about storytelling and the role our industry plays in shaping how audiences understand sustainability and the climate crisis. Earlier this year, we piloted a series of climate-focused Peer Circles, bringing members together to exchange ideas and explore how these themes can show up in their work. We will continue that work through April with virtual conversations featuring creators already engaging with these ideas in thoughtful ways. These are early conversations, but they are beginning to build a shared understanding of what this can look like across genres and formats.
There is no single version of what a climate story looks like. Sometimes it is central. Sometimes it sits in the background, part of the texture of a world. Both approaches matter. Television shapes how audiences see the world, including how they understand the role of policy, institutions and collective action in addressing both personal challenges and global matters. Over time, those signals add up. They influence not only how audiences think about these issues, but how relevant and grounded our storytelling feels in a world that is changing.
Throughout the month, we will highlight resources for members, including a short reel that will precede screenings at the Academy. We will also continue to share best practices and lessons across the membership. This work will continue with ongoing programming and opportunities to stay engaged.
Our job has always been to reflect the world as it is and where it is going. That responsibility applies not only to how we operate, but to the stories we tell and the impact they have. This is work we will continue to build on in the months and years ahead.
This chair letter originally appeared in emmy magazine, issue #4, 2026.
