Climate Science and Policy

The theatre industry is rarely discussed from a sustainability standpoint despite having significant environmental impacts, raising billions in revenue annually, and employing nearly 100,000 people in the United States alone. Between energy-intense productions with considerable carbon emissions, substantial material waste, a demanding work environment with long hours, and often unfair wages, the performing arts industry has many avenues for improvement. Theatre in particular presents a fascinating case study for sustainability, as there are many avenues to considerably decrease environmental impacts without sacrificing production quality or budget. This article explores theatre’s impacts on the environment and offers scalable, actionable recommendations for how theatres can “green” their productions and become more sustainable. Created in partnership with San Diego’s Old Globe Theatre, the project culminates in a 100+ page guidebook full of sustainable theatre case studies and tips and tricks for turning the theatre greener, which is housed online and available in English and French. By identifying concrete strategies to reduce environmental impacts in the theatre industry, the project aims to help cut the costs and carbon emissions of regional theatre companies and ensure the artform’s longevity in a warming world.