EMA Awards Fold Into Nonprofit United by Nature, Rebranded for 2027

The Environmental Media Association — Hollywood's sustainability group for nearly 40 years — is becoming part of the nonprofit United by Nature, which will launch the first United by Nature Awards in April 2027 to coincide with Earth Month.

The deal moves EMA's full portfolio — its signature EMA Awards Gala, the Impact Summit, educational initiatives and industry partnerships — under an organization focused on building what it calls the next generation of America's conservation movement. The awards show keeps its entertainment-industry core. But it widens.

"Environmental progress requires a bigger coalition that's more reflective of communities across America," Benji Backer, founder and CEO of United by Nature, said in a statement. "EMA proved how powerful storytelling can shape culture, unite people and drive meaningful outcomes for nature. Together, we're building upon that impact by reaching new audiences and inviting people of all backgrounds to protect the outdoors they love."

What changes for the awards?

The inaugural United by Nature Awards in April 2027 will still celebrate the entertainment industry's environmental leadership. The expansion comes on the eligibility side: the show will now also recognize individuals and organizations across music, sports, podcasts and universities that inspire positive change.

That's a structural shift in the voter-facing category map — from a single-industry honor to a multi-sector one — and it resets the bench of potential honorees. The legacy roster EMA built is substantial. Past honorees include Billie Eilish, Michael Bloomberg, Jane Fonda, Ted Turner, Natalie Portman, Matt Damon and Laura Dern.

Debbie Levin, the former CEO of EMA who now serves as chief visionary officer of United by Nature, framed the move as continuity rather than rupture. "EMA has always believed in the extraordinary power of entertainment and storytelling to inspire environmental action," Levin said. "For more than three decades, we've worked alongside the entertainment community to make sustainability part of the cultural conversation. We're proud of the legacy we've built, and we're excited to work with United by Nature to reach new audiences and continue making sustainability more accessible and engaging."

What happens to the Green Seal?

The EMA Green Seal — the certification that recognizes productions and industries taking meaningful steps to reduce their environmental footprint — becomes the United by Nature Green Seal. The rebrand doesn't start from zero. The program has recognized nearly 3,000 productions for their sustainability efforts.

It also already has its first winner under the new name. Wildwood, the animated fantasy film from Laika Studios, is the first movie awarded the United by Nature Green Seal — a marker that the certification's pipeline, like the awards show, is continuing without interruption through the transition.

For the awards race, the takeaway is timing and scope: an established Hollywood honor with deep celebrity history now has a 2027 relaunch date, a broader eligibility footprint and a renamed seal already stamping new titles.