Producing for the Planet’s 2025 Action Report Shows Canadian Producers Accelerating Climate Action Across the Screen Industry

VANCOUVER, BC, May 21, 2026

‍Canadian film and television producers are significantly ramping up climate action efforts, according to the newly released Producing for the Planet 2025 Action Report. Seventy-three production companies reported a total of 2,581 climate actions in 2025—a 33% increase from the previous year—demonstrating growing momentum toward more sustainable screen production practices across Canada.

The annual report, produced by Producing for the Planet (P4P), tracks voluntary sustainability efforts by independent media producers nationwide. The findings reveal an industry deepening its commitment to climate leadership through operational changes, skills development, and more intentional storytelling.

Participating companies averaged 35 climate actions each in 2025, up from 28 the previous year — a 25% increase in per-company engagement that signals deepening commitment rather than simply a larger reporting base.

“This year's report shows what meaningful progress looks like.” said Marsha Newbery, Executive Director of Producing for the Planet. “Producers across the country are continuing to learn, adapt, and take action — even in the face of ongoing financial and infrastructure barriers. As we look ahead, 2026 is about going deeper — unlocking new opportunities, strengthening industry supports, and greenlighting the next era of sustainable production."

Key Findings from the 2025 Report:

• The number of producers actively avoiding unsustainable behaviours on screen increased nearly eightfold — from just 4 companies in 2024 to 35 in 2025 — signaling growing awareness of storytelling's influence on audience behaviour.
• Participation in sustainability training programs increased by 170%, reflecting stronger industry engagement and capacity-building.
• Producers reported a 100% increase in right-sizing vehicle fleets to reduce fuel use and transportation emissions.
• Waste exit strategy planning increased by 79%, indicating stronger focus on diversion, reuse, and landfill reduction practices.
• Leadership actions rose from the lowest-scoring category in 2024 to third overall in 2025, as more producers embedded sustainability into company-wide decision-making, supply chain engagement, and corporate budgeting.

The report also highlights risks from climate disruption on Canadian productions. In 2025, seven producers reported budget overages directly caused by extreme weather events — including lightning storms, wildfires, wind storms, and unpredictable snowfall — resulting in lost filming days, rescheduled shoots, and in one case an insurance claim exceeding $100,000. While still relatively uncommon, these incidents point to a financial risk that is present and likely to grow.

The report comes as the policy environment for sustainable production is shifting rapidly. In April 2026, Illinois became the first jurisdiction in North America to formally launch a green tax incentive for film and television production — an additional 5% tax credit for certified sustainable productions, announced by Governor Pritzker on Earth Day. Producing for the Planet is calling on Canadian federal and provincial governments to consider similar measures, alongside transitional funding to help producers hire dedicated sustainability staff and develop a national green production certification standard.

Producing for the Planet says the report reflects a broader cultural shift underway in the Canadian screen sector—one driven by collaboration, accountability, and a growing recognition that climate action must be embedded into the future of production.

The full Producing for the Planet 2025 Action Report is available here: [Insert Report Link]

About Producing for the Planet Producing for the Planet is a Canadian non-profit dedicated to catalyzing climate action across the independent screen industry. Through research, resources, and advocacy, we support the transition to sustainable production — tracking industry progress, building producer capacity, and making the case for the policy changes our industry needs. Learn more at www.producingfortheplanet.com