Paper short abstract:

The screen industry holds immense power to combat climate change globally. While India reigns as the film production giant, its environmental impact remains overlooked. This paper assesses the sustainability of India's screen industry and its potential in driving a greener future.

Paper long abstract:

Climate change and environmental sustainability are pressing global issues today, and the screen industries have a significant role to play in raising awareness and promoting sustainable practices through their storytelling (Mahajan, S. & Suri, S., 2023).

India has a longstanding reputation for its acclaimed screen industry and in particular, continues to be by far the world’s largest producer of films (S.G. Dastidar & C. Elliot, 2019). But we tend to forget about what happens behind the scenes to create the digital magic and why one was filming in the first place. The production of screen sets has been leading to a significant carbon footprint, making the industry one of the biggest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions that is the major cause of climate change (Mahajan, S. & Suri, S., 2023).

However, recent efforts have been made to promote sustainable production and consumption in the screen industries, through initiatives such as carbon footprint calculators and sustainable production guidelines. This paper provides a sustainability assessment of the screen industries in India, examining the challenges and opportunities associated with promoting sustainable practices, as well as the role of the creative sector in raising environmental awareness and promoting social change. Drawing on case studies from the Indian film industry, the paper demonstrates the potential for the screen industries to drive positive change towards a more sustainable future.

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