The application of the system archetypes in understanding GHG emissions: A case study in the US movie industry

Abstract

Existing studies show that the movie industry has emitted high GHG emissions. But high GHG emissions emanated from the movie industry have been overlooked. As GHG emissions are associated with climate change, understanding the dynamics of GHG emissions in the movie industry is important. Using the US movie industry as a case study, this study analyzes challenges and solutions to achieve low-carbon US movie industry through feedback loops and the system archetypes. This study finds that the US movie industry consists of several balancing loops and reinforcing loops, leading to four types of the system archetypes. Based on the four different system archetypes, it is found that the US movie industry has faced some barriers to achieve low GHG emissions. Moreover, the identified system archetypes suggest important points about reducing GHG emissions, especially in the US movie industry. The first point is the traditional production should follow sustainable movie practices such as the virtual production. The second point is the US movie industry should initiate some steps such as developing standard procedures and a transition plan to achieve the target of GHG emissions. The third point is while carbon offsetting should be minimized or regularly improved, the virtual production should be encouraged. The latter is important as the virtual production leads to lower GHG emissions and carbon offsetting only offers a temporary solution in decreasing GHG emissions.