Last night was the EMAs (pronounced “emmas”, in case you didn’t know), the annual awards gala thrown by the Environmental Media Association in celebration and recognition of those working in film and TV production who are supporting and promoting the green cause both behind the scenes and on camera. Sir Richard Branson and Jason Mraz were both honored last night along with 2012 producers Centropolis Entertainment and National Geographic’s Explorers in Residence Derreck and Beverly Joubert.

Presenters for the evening included Harrison Ford, Calista Flockhart, Kathryn Morris, Ginnifer Goodwin, Olivia Wilde, Alanis Morrisette, Ed Begley Jr., Blythe Danner, Amy Smart, Simon Baker, Dana Delaney, Emily Vancamp as well as Dianna Agron and Kevin McHale from ‘Glee’. Razzi heroes Louie and Vicki Psihoyos also made it back from the controversial screening of their film The Cove in Japan for the event.

Amy Smart and Simon Baker presenting.

It was a pretty lavish shindig with vendors and screens lining New York Street on the Paramount Studios backlot. Tables were lit with faux votive candles, no paper plates in sight as well as eco-luxury gifts and a variety of gourmet and organic foods available all across the outdoor event.

Toyota and Lexus hosted the eco-luxury lounges.

The very excellent Melinda McGraw, from Mad Men and Hank, was on hand and we chatted a bit about how much there is to learn from pioneers like Ed Begley Jr. as well as what she’s been noticing changing on sets in the last ten years. McGraw pointed out that while many scripts are emailed these days it’s still hard to conserve paper with so many changing scripts drafts. Her pet peeve on set? The air conditioning on sound stages. “It does not need to be that cold,” she said. She also noted that she was decked out in all vintage for the evening.

I also caught up with the very talented actress and EMA board member Frances Fisher to talk about on-set habits. She said that because of the largess and temporary nature of film sets it’s hard to know what the better options are for something like craft services flatware. “What’s the impact of disposable plates versus the water used in washing all of these dishes?” It feels like there’s still a lot of assessment to be done on set.

Bill Nye The Science Guy and Ed Begley Jr. both agree that getting out of our cars is the single biggest thing that we can do to help the environment. Nye, back at the EMAs after a few years away, also said that he rides his bike everywhere much to the amusement of his friends. He also has a powerful solar set up at his house which allows him to sell electricity back into the grid.

Derreck and Beverly Joubert, National Geographic’s current Explorers in Residence (definitley in the running for ‘best job ever’) also launched the Big Cat Initiative last night which aims to protect the world’s big cats, starting on their home continent, Africa, but also spanning the world, bringing together governments and NGOs to save these rapidly vanishing creatures.

Along with honorees Branson and Mraz, winners for the evening included Better Off Ted, Brothers & Sisters, The Cove, Food Inc., Disneynature EARTH, The Lazy Environmentalist and Biz Kid$.

Highlights of the evening included a sneak peek at the upcoming 2012, Alanis working her way through Jason Mraz’s extensive list of eco-accomplishments and Cedric the Entertainer’s attempt to get the crowd to relax. I can also say that I hope that Blythe Danner and Sir Richard’s broken limbs heal quickly. What troopers!

Check out this exclusive clip of Jason Mraz performing “I’m Yours”.

Anyways, Danner is enjoying her role as grandmother to Paltrow’s kids, Apple, 3, and Moses, 2 — and is instilling them with green values from the start. Apparently, it was the same for when Gwyneth was growing up as well. Danner recounts an amusing moment in her education:

“‘Gwyneth was actually 3 years old when she had a placard that we made, this homemade sign that said ‘You are Polluting.’ And we would ride around Los Angeles where we lived,’ Danner adds. ‘I said, ‘Gwennie, when you see dirty, black spewing out of a bus or a truck, hold up a sign.’ ”

After delivering the instructions, the mom-and-daughter team had a scary moment – when the young Gwyneth proceeded to roll down her window at a stop light. “Before I could stop her, she was saying to this big guy in this huge truck, ‘You’re polluting!’”

“He said, ‘I am? I better go to the big garage and fix that.’”

For Moses and Apple, it’s all about compost time with grandma. “It’s a nice thing we like to do together out in our garden. They are great helpers. Apple said to me the other day in the car, ‘You know we have to keep the world clean.’ and I said, ‘Yes! That’s my girl!’ She is getting the message.”

And speaking of polluting trucks, Danner was on hand earlier last week for the introduction of two new natural gas-powered garbage trucks in New York City. Seems the world may finally be embracing all those good green values she’s taught her family for so many years.

via People

Last week Blythe Danner spent a little face time in New York City’s Union Square helping to promote Energy Vision - a national non-profit organization that studies and promotes the benefits of clean, renewable petroleum-free transportation fuels – as they unveiled two new natural gas garbage trucks.

Blythe said, “It is amazing that, for reducing air pollution, taking one old diesel truck off the streets is like removing 325 cars! Every child exposed to the new natural gas trucks will be a healthier child, and, by our becoming less oil dependent, every child will have a better chance for a secure future.”

And how much of a difference would replacing “traditional” garbage trucks for natural gas ones make? A report released by Energy Vision estimated that if half of the diesel collection and recycling trucks operating in New York City were traded in for natural gas models “more than 16,000 tons of pollutants would be eliminated a year, while reliance on a clean domestic fuel would eliminate the need for 23 million gallons a year of petroleum-based diesel fuel, which is getting more expensive by the day and relies on imported oil.”

Wow! I had no idea! Big thanks to Blythe Danner for lending her fame to such an important cause. Don’t forget to visit the Energy Vision website and read the entire “Fueling a Greener Future” report.

photo credit: Brad Barket/Getty Images