Celebrities go green at the 2017 EMA Awards

Natalie Portman at the Environmental Media Association's 27th Annual EMA Awards at Barker Hangar — Natalie Portman at the Environmental Media Association’s 27th Annual EMA Awards at Barker Hangar

Photo Credit: Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Environmental Media Association

On Saturday night, Hollywood showed off its commitment to going green at the 27th annual EMA Awards, which is dedicated to harnessing the power of celebrities and the media to promote and inspire solutions for the environment. The organization believes that through positive role modeling, the entertainment industry can inspire consumers to take action.

During the Environmental Media Association (EMA) hosted event at Santa Monica’s Barker Hangar, Natalie Portman received the EMA Ongoing Commitment Award presented by Gina Rodriguez, Russell Simmons accepted the EMA Missions in Music Award, Michael R. Bloomberg received EMA’s Lifetime Achievement Award (by proxy), John Paul DeJoria was honored with the EMA Innovator Award, and Alan J. Fuerstman, Founder, Chairman and CEO of Montage International took home the EMA Corporate Responsibility Award.

Photo Credit: Getty Images for Environmental Media Association

The EMA Awards were hosted by board member Jaden Smith. Attendees included Willow Smith, will.i.am., Ian Somerhalder, Nikki Reed, Lance Bass, Ed Begley Jr., Frances Fisher, Francesca Eastwood, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Amy Smart, Madelaine Petsch, Van Jones, Joey Graceffa, Karrueche Tran, Scottie Thompson, Eric Christian Olsen, Sarah Wright Olsen, Ashlan Cousteau, Philippe Cousteau, Annie LeBlanc, Brooke Butler, Carter Oosterhouse, Hayden Summerall, JABS, Jordana Brewster, and Kristen Hancher.

Highlights of the evening included Gina Rodriguez presenting Natalie Portman with the EMA Ongoing Commitment Award, whom she met while on set on Annihilation. “Natalie did it all while we were on set. She was a humble, gracious leader. She was kind and everything you prayed she would be. Little did I know she was doing more than what she was doing on set, being the woman we all aspire to be. We need those leaders. We need those warriors in our lives,” she said onstage. After accepting her award, the Oscar winner discussed the importance and awareness of environmental issues.“It is worth remembering that a generation that stood against war in the sixties and seventies, also stood up for this planet we call home,” said Portman. “May all of us tonight commit to doing whatever we can to ensure our planet and our children have the chance to enjoy the kind of future that is truly ongoing.”

Russell Simmons poses backstage with the EMA Missions in Music Award

Photo Credit: Getty Images for Environmental Media Association

Russell Simmons accepted his award and challenged the audience to eat a plant-based diet. “The number one cause of global warming is the animals you eat. To destroy our planet and be the worst disaster is conscious behavior. You have to wake up and be more conscious. We need to work together and really put the hammer down.” Meanwhile, John Paul DeJoria, co-founder of professional hair-care company John Paul Mitchell Systems and ultra-premium tequila brand Patrón Spirits, accepted the EMA Innovator Award and made a pledge to the environment. “Tonight, we are pledging to plant 30,000 trees in the United States, Central America and South America. We said we were going to change the world but we didn’t have the money or the influence. Today we do and we are going to do it.”

On display for guests to check out at the event via co-sponsors Toyota and Lexus was the new Toyota Mirai, which runs on hydrogen and emits no harmful exhaust or greenhouse gases; its only emission is water.