The Climate Reality Check

The  Climate Reality Check is a simple tool to evaluate whether our climate reality is being represented in films, TV shows, and other narratives. It’s inspired by the Bechdel-Wallace Test, which measures gender representation.

This tool allows writers and industry professionals to interrogate their own stories, audiences to see whether Hollywood is representing their reality on-screen, and for researched to measure whether climate change is included in any group of stories or if representation is increasing over time. The website also includes an evaluation of Oscar nominated films and a discussion guide.

To use the Climate Reality Check, just apply these two statements to any narrative:

1. Climate change exists. You can measure whether the climate crisis exists in the world of the story as shown through impacts and solutions. Perhaps the story portrays an unprecedented heat wave, a news story about rising sea levels, or graffiti concerning climate change.
2. A character knows it. A character’s awareness of climate change can be demonstrated through dialogue, narration, actions, or visual imagery. Perhaps a character’s narration establishes the climate context, a character is shown reading a news article about climate change, or there is a conversation about extreme weather.
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Why use this test?

Climate change touches every aspect of life, so it's only natural for it to show up in our stories, and for creators to include it in their work.

This is about highlighting authentic stories that reflect the reality we're  all living in and help us navigate what it means to be human in the age  of climate change.

Evaluating Oscar-nominated films

Good Energy has applied the Climate Reality Check to Oscar nominees, going back to 2023. Explore each year's report to see which scripted films passed the test!

Published by

The Climate Reality Check was authored by Matthew Schneider-Mayerson PhD, Carmiel Banasky, Bruno Olmedo Quiroga, and Anna Jane Joynerwas.

The Climate Reality Check website has been published by Good Energy and Buck Lab for Climate & Environment, Colby College.