The National Center for Cinema and the Moving Image has announced that, from January 1, 2024, all cinematographic works such as films, series and TV films will have to estimate their CO2 equivalent emissions in order to claim aid. public. Programs corresponding to filming (travel, technical means, accommodation, canteen, etc.), but also to post-production, will have to be covered. It is not specified whether advertising and promotional campaigns are concerned.
This measure includes a global plan to help – before constraining – the cinema and audiovisual production sector to significantly reduce its carbon impact. It should also be noted that this obligation will come into force on March 31, 2023, but that the communication of this carbon footprint will only be required for aid allocations in 2024.
We learn that, secondly, the “immersive animation works” as well as video games will also be affected by the provision. They too will therefore have to present their carbon footprint in order to hope to receive public funding.
Towards greener shoots
In a study published at the end of 2020 on the carbon impact of the French audiovisual industry, we learned that the sector is not extremely polluting (in 2018 it represented some 0.94% of national emissions, which placed it in 50th place of the most polluting industries, behind the manufacture of furniture). On the other hand, it has not yet begun its ecological transition and becomes a problematic sector when it is backed by the manufacture and sale of televisions, computers and tablets, as well as the impact of video streaming. On a shoot, the most polluting items remain the transport and accommodation of the teams.
This is not the first time that the National Center for Cinema and the Moving Image conditions its aid and the obtaining of funds. Indeed, following several scandals – including the Harvey Weinstein affair and the #MeToo movement that it generated – the CNC has integrated sexual and gender-based violence into its award criteria. The organization also obliges any organization filing a grant file to follow harassment prevention training.