Understanding the environmental impact of Film Production
Embedding Bafta Albert carbon calculation into the undergraduate curriculum.
In ‘A Screen New Deal’, published by the British Film Institute (BFI) in 2020 and looking at the film and television industries’ environmental impacts between November 2019 and July 2020, the following claim is made:
‘Data analysis shows that one average tentpole film production – a film with a budget of over US$70m – generates 2,840 tones of CO2e, the equivalent amount absorbed by 3,709 acres of forest in a year. Within this, transport accounts for approximately 51% of carbon emissions, mains electricity and gas use accounts for around 34%, and diesel generators for the remaining 15%.’ (BFI, 2020)
When scaled up to consider the wider Film and Television industry, it makes it one of the major contributors to carbon emissions world-wide. Especially when taking into streaming and home entertainment into consideration.
There have been several organisations set up to begin to reform and education the industry, especially in the context of becoming Net Zero. Few more successful than Albert. Now fully integrated with the BFI, what started as a project to calculate the carbon emersions of EastEnders, is now the gold standard for carbon calculation and sustainability for British Film and Television. Allowing projects, including student projects, to be officially certified as carbon neutral.
The Lincoln School of Film, Media and Journalism is an Albert partner, giving us the ability to deliver the Albert carbon calculation and sustainability training to the same level as any industry professional would receive, using the exact same software. This produces certified graduates from our school who have a new and vital employability skill.
Not only do they leave knowing how to use the gold standard of carbon calculators, but also, they have a wider knowledge of the impacts of the film and TV industry, especially in context of goals; 5, 8, 9, 12 & 13 from the UN sustainable development goals.
Up until the 2023-24 academic year the Albert training has been run yearly, and as part of an open call to those interested. With both staff and students attending the training. For this coming academic year, the training is now also built into the Level 4 BA Film Production curriculum. To run alongside the open call sessions.
Taking place as part of the schools’ industry week, all level 4 Film production students will have the training sessions on their timetable. Meaning for the first time we will begin to see entire cohorts educated on the ecological impacts of the industry they are looking to work in. Further improving their employability and working towards the universities strategic plan.
If you are interested in learning more, then please contact either Jon Rowlands, jrowlands@lincoln.ac.uk or Jack Shelbourn, jshelbourn@lincoln.ac.uk
For more information on Albert, please visit: https://wearealbert.org
For more information on the BFI Screen New Deal, please visit: https://www.bfi.org.uk/news/screen-new-deal-sustainability-report
For more information on the UN sustainability goals, please visit: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Article written by Jack Shelbourn
Senior Lecturer – LSFMJ
Article Published July 2023