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Press Releases< back to Press Release listSYRIANA Fights Pollution with Renewable EnergyWarner Bros. Pictures, Participant Productions and NativeEnergy challenge Hollywood to follow their leadLos Angeles - January 18, 2006 – In a groundbreaking move, Warner Bros. Pictures and Participant Productions have made Syriana, a multi-layered political thriller about the global oil industry, the first major motion picture to be “climate neutral” by offsetting 100% of carbon dioxide emissions generated by the production during filming – an estimated 2,040 tons – with investments in renewable energy. Investments will be made in wind and methane power and, specifically, in projects that may not otherwise happen without this support. NativeEnergy worked with Syriana’s producers to calculate the amount of carbon dioxide emissions from all of Syriana's production activities, including filming, air travel, rental car and truck emissions, hotel energy use, diesel generators used on location, office and warehouse energy use, and emissions from shipping. NativeEnergy then offset those emissions by purchasing renewable energy credits, or “green tags,” from renewable energy projects. Investments are in two projects – the construction of a family dairy farm methane generator and a wind farm in the Midwest. The wind farm is on Native American land and is Native American owned. In addition to clean energy, the wind farm will create jobs and revenue streams for the tribes from the sale of electricity and the green tags. Warner Bros. Pictures and Participant are bringing critical revenues to the projects up front, contributing directly to their development and construction. Renewable energy sources such as wind and methane provide clean electricity and reduce pollution by displacing energy that would otherwise have to come from fossil fuels like coal and oil. By making these investments, Warner Bros. Pictures and Participant Productions are reducing global warming emissions equivalent to eliminating 4 million average car miles. In the past, film producers and actors have planted trees to sequester carbon emissions from production activities in order to make their films carbon neutral. Syriana is the first to offset 100% of its carbon footprint with new renewable energy projects, which will reduce the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels while helping Native American tribes and family farms operate sustainable businesses in balance with the earth. “Embarking on this project gives us an opportunity to both learn about and educate the public about our air pollution and climate impacts from using energy and fuel, as well as available alternatives for investing in and promoting clean energy,” says Shelley Billik, Vice President, Environmental Initiatives, Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. “Measuring one's footprint is also a great way to learn about reducing energy and fuel consumption in the first place. We hope that other studios and productions will embark on similar projects.” “We took the initiative in making this film climate neutral because it is the right thing to do and it is in keeping with our mission,” says Meredith Blake, Executive Vice President for Corporate & Community Affairs, Participant Productions. “Participant exists to use films as a means for social change and this is one more way we can lead by example and help to bring awareness to the industry that offsetting carbon dioxide emissions is a viable option.” Tom Boucher, NativeEnergy President & CEO, says that the film industry is playing a leadership role that others will surely follow. “We hope that Hollywood, businesses, and audiences everywhere will follow this example and help fight global warming by diversifying our energy supply with clean, renewable energy projects they actually participate in getting built,” Boucher says. Unless we take steps to reduce our global warming emissions, scientists say that rising temperatures will lead to droughts, extreme weather, and rising sea levels – endangering our safety, economy, and national security. “Global warming is one of the most significant problems facing our planet, and Participant believes that everyone – corporations, individuals and governments – has a role to play,” says Blake. “Making our films climate neutral is an example of something we can do to reduce our impact on the planet, leading the way to positive change.” < back to Press Release list
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