Fremantle has signed BAFTA Albert’s “Climate Content Pledge” alongside production companies Banijay UK and ITV Studios. By signing the pledge, the three “super-indies” of the UK film and television industry are now joining twelve leading broadcasters and streaming services that pledged in 2021 to use TV and film content to raise awareness of global environmental issues among UK audiences.
‘Telling relevant stories about climate change’
“We know that our industry holds incredible power to tell extraordinary stories that really shift how we see things,” said Catherine Ellis, Head of Climate Content at BAFTA Albert. “When 12 pioneering organisations signed the Pledge in 2021, they committed to tell engaging, relevant, and hopeful stories about climate change and sustainable futures – across all genres. However, broadcasters and streamers are only half of the picture. Production companies bring the ideas to life – pitching original, fresh, relevant stories that reflect the world we live in. Their commitment shows the acceleration and momentum of this work. The Climate Content Pledge is our industry at its best: Broadcasters, streamers, and producers working together to tell bold, hopeful climate-related stories that don’t just make great content, but that inspire audiences.”
‘Driving meaningful change’
Amelia Brown, CEO of Fremantle UK, said: “Fremantle is proud to support BAFTA Albert’s Climate Content Pledge and stand alongside an industry committed to driving meaningful change. We believe the stories we tell have the power to shape culture and influence behavior, and with that comes a responsibility to reflect the realities of the climate and nature crisis on screen. Across our content, we are committed to embedding sustainability into storytelling in authentic and engaging ways, and to working collaboratively with partners to drive lasting impact on screen.”
The twelve original signatories to the “Climate Content Pledge” are BBC, BBC Studios, BritBox, Channel 4, Channel 5, ITV, Paramount, RTÉ, S4C, STV, UKTV, and Warner Bros. Discovery. Albert was originally developed by the BBC as a tool to measure the carbon emissions generated by British film and television productions. Fremantle has also used the tool since 2020. It later evolved into an environmental initiative for the entire UK film industry under the auspices of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA).
