Green Rider is an actor-led grassroots initiative working to transform the TV and film landscape.

Inspired by BAFTA albert’s 2020 campaign & developed with Equity for a Green New Deal, we collaborate across departments to create a fairer, greener industry. 

The campaign was launched with Equity UK at the Edinburgh TV festival in August 2023, alongside an open letter signed by over a hundred high-profile actors, including Sir Mark Rylance, Natalie Dormer, Hayley Atwell, Bill Nighy and Ben Whishaw.

We also released a promo video featuring Bella Ramsey, Alex Lawther, Paapa Essiedu and Gemma Arterton. The campaign was featured in The Times, The Guardian, Deadline, Variety, BBC Newsnight and more. 

Pilot Scheme

In 2024, we ran a pilot scheme with the BBC, Sky, Picture Zero, to test out the Green Rider across 5 TV series: Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light (Playground), Strike: Ink Black Heart (Brontë Film & TV) and the pilot of Smoggie Queens (Hat Trick) from the BBC. From Sky: Gangs of London (Pulse Films) and Funny Girl (Rebel Park & Potboiler Productions). The Pilot also included 3 short films Spirit of Place (WainBrave Productions & On The Edge in association with WWT); There Will Come Soft Rains (Azana Productions & Mono Film Productions); and More Flames (WainBrave, Vantage Point, Climate Spring, Yellow Dot Studios).

The scheme used, and built on, sustainability models created by BAFTA albert. The full report is available below.

Our Impact

  • Since Aug 2023, we've worked with Equity, the performers' trade union, to get greener, cleaner ways of working into contracts as
    standard. We work with actors of all levels to supercharge the green transition.

    By communicating across all departments - agents, production, broadcasters, sustainability experts and crew - we are
    developing strong examples of how cast can supercharge climate action through our industry
    and creating a blueprint that others can easily follow.

  • Green Rider is also a social movement aiming to reshape the wider climate conversation. As public figures, actors have huge influence. Celebrity culture has for decades endorsed carbon-intensive, high consumption lifestyles. It’s time to promote a different way of doing things. We’ve seen how events within the industry ripple beyond it - Me Too being a powerful example. A visible shift to climate action among influential artists can spark a seismic change in wider society.

    We aim to engage creatives at all levels of their careers through workshops, training sessions and screenings of sustainably made films. We offer our supporters strong messages that empower them to reach new audiences, and the know-how to take meaningful action. From newcomers to national treasures, we're building a diverse and powerful network of artists pushing for change.

  • The great news is we don't have to start from scratch. Thanks to BAFTA albert, many major broadcasters now have strong climate goals and sustainability experts are coming up with innovative new tech to use on set.

    Green Rider is about opening collaboration across departments to supercharge the great work already being done.

    Originally inspired by a BAFTA albert campaign, Green Rider is working with Equity, the BBC, Sky, NBCUniversal, Carnival Films, Picture Zero, Climate Spring and more.