How Scripted Television Is Missing Out on Leading the Climate Conversation

And no, I dont have all the answers

I was invited to a round table conversation about TV Comedy x Climate at the BFI this morning (Thurs 26th).

There was a nice mix of people in the room, from producers to writers to comedy commissioners. I went with my scripted hat on because it’s a topic I care deeply about, don’t do enough about while feeling stumped as to why it hasn’t gained more mainstream traction and urgent action, when its been a hot topic for as long as I’ve worked in telly… which is AGES.

Obviously, a result of my algorithm but I saw a gag on Twitter last week and I’ll paraphrase it (while adding specificity to it) here –

“There will be 100 private jets flying to Venice for a billionaires wedding next week, meanwhile I’m over here separating my yoghurt container from its metal lid and rinsing the dregs of greasy peanut butter from a jar with hot water”. Tell me again how we win at this game?

For decades, comedy has rightly been a ‘trojan horse’ for tough topics, yet climate change remains a rare guest star in scripted film and TV. Despite the urgency of the climate crisis, only a tiny fraction of scripts even mentions it, while unscripted formats and stand-up comedians are pushin ahead, making climate accessible, funny, and urgent.

Larry David: The Original Climate Comedian?

Let’s rewind to 2005, when Larry David, a multi-millionaire who made a virtue of driving a Prius on Curb Your Enthusiasm, was putting climate change front and centre in mainstream comedy. Encouraged by his eco-activist wife Laurie, Larry hosted “Earth to America!,” a two-hour TV comedy extravaganza designed to get America laughing, and, crucially, learning about global warming. The special was described as “a climate yuk-fest” featuring an all-star roster: Will Ferrell, Jack Black, Tom Hanks, Steve Martin, Ben Stiller, and more. Writers from The Daily Show, The Simpsons, King of the Hill, and Everybody Loves Raymond all conspired to create an upbeat, non-preachy, thigh slapping show about one of the least funny issues on the planet. Staged live at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, “Earth to America!” proved climate comedy could be star-studded, smart, and genuinely entertaining.

Yet nearly twenty years later, why does mainstream scripted comedy still hesitate to follow Larry’s lead?

Why So Slow?

Is it fear that climate change is “boring,” unsexy, or too adjacent to politics? Is there a worry that audiences will tune out if the message feels preachy, or that climate themes might stifle the organic weirdness that makes great comedy tick? These anxieties are real. Comedy writing is deeply personal, often rooted in lived experience and personal obsessions, not mandates from above. Commissioners and execs know that forced messaging rarely lands.

Meanwhile, unscripted talent like Joe Lycett and climate comedian Stuart Goldsmith are leading the way with authenticity. Their agility and willingness to draw from personal eco-anxieties, contradictions, and the absurdities of modern life allow them to connect with audiences in a way that feels truthful, urgent, and funny.

What More Can Scripted Teams Do?

The answer isn’t to force-feed audiences climate content, but to empower writers and creators to weave it into the fabric of their worlds. What a wanky way to explain it but I stand by it.

TikTok, with over a billion users, is a prime destination for youth dialogue on environment and sustainability issues. Its where a growing number of young people not waiting for traditional TV and streamers. Concerned about the world we are leaving to them - they are using the platform to raise awareness and inspire action through captivating content and engaging storytelling. and I’m here for it

I thought long and hard about this whole thing before today’s round table meeting with Laughing Matters /OKRE and I came up with a few steps that I would like to see next and if not, I hope scripted teams in the UK (and globally) will consider:

· Embed, Don’t Announce: Let climate realities be part of characters’ everyday lives, like Larry’s Prius - rather than the focus of “special episodes.”

· Mine the Personal: Encourage writers to channel their own eco-dread, hypocrisy and confusion. Like someone who bought a Tesla to virtue signal now having to wear an “I bought it before he turned’ bumper sticker. Comedy is richest when it’s rooted in truth.

· Satirise the Absurd: From greenwashing to performative eco-virtue, the climate crisis is full of contradictions ripe for satire.

· Cross-Pollinate: Pair writers with climate scientists, activists, and comedians already working in this space. I find that new perspectives often spark fresh takes.

** We don’t have a long tradition of ‘writer’s rooms’ in the UK so teaming up with experts esp in a potentially complicated field like this, is a great way to inject authentic knowledge into our limited engagement and flawed best practices as a jumping off point **

· Champion Subtlety and Variety: Not every story needs to be “about” climate change, but more stories can reflect the world as it is, where climate is part of the background, sometimes tragic, sometimes ridiculous but always present.

Trying to Walk the Walk - On and Off Screen

Drawing from my own experience as a commissioner at an albert-compliant broadcaster, I’ve seen how meaningful climate action can go far beyond what appears in the script or on screen. While we encouraged our scripted teams to naturally integrate recycling and climate themes into their storylines, we also made a conscious effort to embed sustainability into every aspect of our production process.

There was of course resistance and consternation but It meant our commitment was visible through the choices made by cast and crew every day: we avoided short-haul flights, provided recycling bins on set, eliminated single-use plastics from the lunch truck, and moved away from printing out scripts. Big caveat – WHERE POSSIBLE. Eco-friendly cars and ride-sharing were meant to be the norm, not the exception. These practices weren’t just about compliance, they were about creating a culture where climate responsibility was lived, not just performed. Like I said, we tried. Where possible.

This hasn’t always been perfect in practice, but it’s a meaningful start.

By trying to align off-screen actions with on-screen messaging, I think we can and should set a standard that sustainability isn’t a box to tick, but a value to embody.

Commissioners and content execs can’t prescribe great climate comedy. But they can create the space for it to flourish by championing bold, authentic voices and trusting writers to make climate part of the story, not just the message.

The old hippie in me truly believes the next Larry David level of funny activist is out there, Prius and all and they may not be male or privileged, but come from an unexpected place, so let’s make sure they have the freedom (and the green light) to drive this conversation around climate comedy forward.