Jan 9 2023 - Seattle, WA, USA

Coming Soon: Future Forward Documentary Series

Future doc series image.
Circular Economy Climate Action Climate Change

By The Climate Pledge Team

Watch the trailer of Future Forward, The Climate Pledge’s character-driven documentary series pulling back the curtain on corporate innovations and climate action.

Envision a net-zero carbon future: a future in which the package you’ve been awaiting gets delivered in a sleek emissions-free electric van, you go to work in an office building whose cement structure captures and stores carbon, you take a weekend flight that produces 80% less emissions—which leaves you with 80% less travel guilt—and before landing, you peer out the window to catch a glimpse of a previously depleted forest, farmland battered by harsh weather, and a trash-filled riverbed, that is now overflowing with lush green flora, thriving agriculture fields, and pristine water. Sound idealistic? Sure, but here come some fresh-from-the-field films exemplifying how it’s not.

Here’s a first look at Future Forward, six short films to premiere in April 2023. Future Forward is a character-driven documentary series featuring people and businesses pioneering industry innovation on the front lines of climate change. Each film profiles visionaries fighting for their dream of a better world, the complex hurdles to igniting corporate change on a global scale, and a contagious hope—and inspiration—for the future.

Each of the six films is directed by an award-winning filmmaker and highlights Climate Pledge signatories—across industries from transportation and construction to agriculture and water—trailblazing paths to a cleaner future, demonstrating to other companies that a net-zero journey is possible and crucial, and inspiring businesses from all sectors and regions to make their own climate commitments and join the Pledge. Complete with stunning footage and heart-warming stories of resilience, these short films leave audiences with a hopeful message: Companies can—and are—changing the way they do business to create a healthy planet for generations to come.

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The films will be widely available in April 2023. Sign up here to host a screening of the film series. We’ll provide a screening toolkit and additional resources to support your event.

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Future Forward: The Future of Buildings episode; image credit: The Climate Pledge.
Future Forward: The Future of Buildings episode; image credit: The Climate Pledge

The Future of Buildings
directed by Samia Khan-Bambrah
4:52 minutes

“We live on an island; will this island even be here?” asks Jennifer Wagner (CarbonCure Technologies) about the future of Prince Edward Island, a Canadian province her family has called home for decades. Motivated by the desire to build a better future for her children, Wagner joined CarbonCure, a fast-growing climate tech startup on a mission to accelerate the decarbonization of the concrete industry. With the growth of urban areas and surging demand for concrete— its key ingredient, cement, is responsible for an estimated 7% of carbon emissions—CarbonCure aims to turn this concrete challenge into a climate solution.

Future Forward: The Future of Transportation episode; image credit: The Climate Pledge.
Future Forward: The Future of Transportation episode; image credit: The Climate Pledge

The Future of Transportation
directed by Cynthia Hill
6:57 minutes

In 2019, Amazon approached electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian to talk about electrifying the company’s delivery fleet. In 2022, just three years later, Amazon and Rivian rolled out the first custom Amazon electric delivery vehicles, the beginning of what will be 100,000 by 2030. But the road to decarbonization has not been smooth—from vehicle design to infrastructure needs, the transition from traditional gas-powered delivery vans to electric delivery vehicles has required a number of unique innovations as well as help from other Climate Pledge signatories.

Future Forward: The Future of Flight episode; image credit: The Climate Pledge.
Future Forward: The Future of Flight episode; image credit: The Climate Pledge

The Future of Flight
directed by Ondi Timoner
5:30 minutes

If the aviation industry was a country, it would be the 7th largest source of CO2 emissions in the world. One key to decarbonizing aviation rests with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), made from renewable sources like used cooking oils and waste animal fats. When used in its neat form, SAF can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 80% compared to fossil jet fuel. In January 2020, JetBlue announced that it would be one of the first airlines in the U.S. to fly regularly on SAF (produced by fellow Pledge signatory, Neste) out of San Francisco International Airport. This groundbreaking collaboration between Neste and JetBlue shows how companies can partner to accelerate responsible climate action.

Future Forward: The Future of Water episode; image credit: The Climate Pledge.
Future Forward: The Future of Water episode; image credit: The Climate Pledge

The Future of Water
directed by Samia Khan-Bambrah
5:55 minutes

The ancestors of the people of East Java, Indonesia, considered water to be sacred. Now, with increasingly polluted waterways, local communities are facing water scarcity and, by 2025, so could half the world’s population. The only way to solve the water crisis is by working together to expedite solutions. Multi Bintang Indonesia, an Indonesian subsidiary of HEINEKEN, is working with local communities to safeguard springs and clear rivers from trash so both the business and local citizens can thrive.

Future Forward: The Future of Farming episode; image credit: The Climate Pledge.
Future Forward: The Future of Farming episode; image credit: The Climate Pledge

The Future of Farming
directed by Laura Checkoway
7:24 minutes

Unprecedented heavy rains (a consequence of extreme weather caused by climate change) can take inches off of topsoil in minutes, destroying a farmer’s harvest and threatening their livelihood. The companies that rely on these farmers to source local ingredients for their products are also impacted. Unilever is tackling this business challenge head-on by partnering with Practical Farmers of Iowa to protect and improve soil through regenerative farming practices.

Future Forward: The Future of Forests episode; image credit: The Climate Pledge.
Future Forward: The Future of Forests episode; image credit: The Climate Pledge

The Future of Forests
directed by David Darg
4:34 minutes

At almost the size of Australia, the Amazon is the largest rainforest in the world. However, due to the current scale of deforestation, it won’t be this size for long. Rainforests are natural carbon sinks, and when trees vanish their naturally-stored carbon has to go somewhere—and that somewhere is our atmosphere. In order to protect the Amazon and simultaneously combat food scarcity, it is critical that businesses invest in nature-based solutions. Amazon and their partners are supporting agroforestry systems in Brazil to restore forests, produce food, and create sustainable livelihoods for local communities.