📽️ Ted Turner Goes Green: Exclusive Look from the EMA Awards
When you think about bold leaders in both media and the environment, Ted Turner tops the list.
At the 2010 Environmental Media Association (EMA) Awards, I had the unique opportunity to share exclusive footage and personal research on Turner’s lifelong dedication to green living and climate advocacy.
This wasn’t just a spotlight moment—it was a deep dive into how one man can help shift the course of our planet’s future.
The Turner Effect: Media Meets Mission
Ted Turner revolutionized cable news with CNN. But long before “climate crisis” became a trending term, he was already talking green.
Turner’s work includes:
1. Launching the United Nations Foundation, using his billion-dollar pledge to support global sustainability.
2. Creating Turner Renewable Energy, pushing solar and wind power forward. Recently, Turner aligned with no other than Southern Company (NYSE: SO) CEO David Ratcliffe. They announced an alliance to pursue development of renewable energy projects in the United States. That’s now beginning with photovoltaic solar installations in the Southwest US.
This location is down in the Atlanta area to develop a 30 MW power plant of solar energy. One which would be the largest in the United States. It would also power Northern New Mexico (equivalent to 14,000 homes). He is calling it The Southern Turner Renewable Energy project. It will be managed and operated by First Solar; a leader in thin film module manufacturing. The array will be 500,000 PV solar modules using First Solar’s technology. In addition, the facility and related infrastructure will create thousands of jobs in the United States.
2. Preserving millions of acres of land across the U.S. for conservation and biodiversity. Turner is the largest individual landowner in North America with more than two million acres. The alliance will explore renewable projects both on Turner land as well as other suitable sites, according to a press release.
Also, as my buddy at Treehugger Sara Novak reports regarding his GREEN RESTAURANT Ted’s Montana Grill: From the get go Ted’s Montana Grill was a greener restaurant chain, but recently Turner has gone a step further with his Green Restaurant Revolution. Turner and Ted’s Montana Grill CEO and Cofounder, George McKerrow Jr. have been traveling the country visiting Atlanta, Boston, Philadelphia, New York City, and Washington, D.C. to teach restaurateurs how to make their restaurants more sustainable.
So, Ted didn’t just sign checks. That’s because he built businesses, influenced policy, and led with vision.
What I Also Found in My Research
Digging into Turner’s history revealed some key facts that often get overlooked:
- Turner was one of the first major media figures to call climate change a global emergency. Long before mainstream outlets caught on, he used his platforms to educate and warn.
- He’s backed real change with serious money. His donations have supported environmental causes, nuclear disarmament, clean water, and sustainable agriculture.
- Ted sees environmentalism as common sense.doesn’t call it activism. Because, he stated, it’s called survival. In his own words: “We’re either going to change our ways or we’re going to lose the planet.”
Exclusive Video Moment at the EMA Awards
At the 2010 EMA Awards, I captured a brief yet powerful clip of Ted Turner backstage, speaking candidly about the future of green media.
🎥 Watch the exclusive video here:
Green Living Guy x Ted Turner – EMA Awards 2010
In it, he emphasizes the need for storytelling that inspires—not just warns. He believes that media can be the bridge between the science and the public.
“It’s not just about facts,” he says in the video. “It’s about urgency and hope.”
The Power of Example
Ted Turner’s entire career is proof that you don’t have to choose between success and sustainability.
You can do both—and influence millions in the process.
He turned his concern for the Earth into a model for eco-driven leadership, challenging other media moguls, CEOs, and politicians to follow suit.
And he did it without waiting for permission.
Why This Still Matters Today
More than a decade later, Turner’s message rings louder than ever.
As we face wildfires, rising seas, and global energy shifts, his early warnings now feel prophetic.
The media still holds the key to climate action. But it needs more bold voices. More urgency. And more leaders like Ted Turner who are willing to speak up and fund the future.
Final Thoughts: Follow the Lead, Amplify the Message
Researching Ted Turner’s environmental legacy reminded me that we all have a role to play. Whether you own a network or run a blog, your voice matters. Your content shapes culture.
And if you want to be inspired? Start with Ted.
His life proves that when green meets grit, big things happen.
I'm really impressed with Ted Turner's work. Hopefully some of the billionaires signing up for the Giving Pledge with Warren Buffett and Bill Gates will donate to environmental causes.