Equity for a Green New Deal is a network of Equity Members fighting for climate justice in our industry and beyond. Will Attenborough from the Green New Deal Network reflects on the importance of the Green Rider pilot scheme.
We are proud to announce that Equity has officially wrapped up the Green Rider pilot scheme.
In August 2023, we launched the Green Rider campaign, empowering our members to push for cleaner, greener and fairer practices in TV and film.
Alongside a public statement of support signed by 200 actors and screen workers, Equity announced a plan with BBC and Sky Studios to test the Green Rider across four major TV productions. This groundbreaking initiative saw casts working with producers to implement clean energy, greener transport and fair sharing of resources on set.
Mark Rylance led cast efforts on Wolf Hall, Gemma Arterton on Funny Woman, with Holliday Grainger and Tom Burke leading on Strike. The fourth series in the scheme - Gangs of London, led by Ṣọpẹ́ Dirisu - is due to air in March.
If we turn things around, we can show the world what's possible and inspire mass change. The Green Rider campaign demonstrates how our members are doing just that.
In the wake of the LA wildfires, we’ve seen climate change and extreme weather devastate the homes and livelihoods of our fellow workers. We feel a shared determination with our US counterparts to protect our friends and communities from further harm, and to ensure our industry has a safe future.
TV and film are highly polluting industries. The average blockbuster produces as much pollution as the city of Brighton does in two months.
However, our industry is also highly visible - if we turn things around, we can show the world what's possible and inspire mass change. The Green Rider campaign demonstrates how our members are doing just that.
Each of the four productions in the pilot scheme switched their energy supply from diesel to ‘HVO’ - a cleaner, fossil-free fuel made from used vegetable oil! This reduced carbon pollution by a whopping 80%.
There was widespread support across all four shows for replacing red meat with healthier (and tastier!) options on the menu, cutting food emissions in half. Meanwhile, 80-90% of actors were eager to rideshare - this, along with producers booking trains over planes and electric vehicles where possible, has huge potential to cut pollution and clean up our air.
Perhaps most importantly, the pilot scheme was transformative because actors used their influence to inspire collective action. With cast getting involved, it created the powerful feeling that the whole team was joining in to update our ways of working. This broke down old-fashioned barriers between cast and crew, and led to happier sets overall.
The blueprint developed through the pilot scheme is already making waves across our industry. Last November, Benedict Cumberbatch announced his collaboration with the Green Rider campaign to lead progress in Hollywood. At the same time, the campaign’s co-founders - Danusia Samal, Will Attenborough and Fehinti Balogun - are busy negotiating with PACT to embed these cleaner and fairer practices into our collective agreements.
Ready to get involved? Riders aren’t just for superstars! Send the Green Rider Handshake to your agent today to use on your next project.
Backed by BAFTA albert and Equity, this document sets out what actions you’d like to commit to and what you ask of production in return. It’s a conversation-starter that can be amended to suit your circumstances.
The Green Rider campaign runs social events, workshops and chances to connect with like-minded screen workers. If you would like to receive updates, please sign up via the campaign website at www.green-rider.org/subscribe.
