Dede’s Green Scene: The Green Adventures of Julia Louis-Dreyfus by Dede Tabak, August 17 2022, 9 Comments

Julia Louis-Dreyfus may have been on a famous TV show about nothing, but in reality, she’s all about doing something to combat climate change. The 61-year-old Emmy award winning actress and producer wants you to know she’s also a climate activist.

Dreyfus has always been passionate about the environment. The “VEEP” star, however, became more of an eco-warrior after the birth of her two sons. She had taken them to the beach when they were young, and they weren’t able to go into the ocean due to water pollution. That inspired her to join Heal the Bay, a nonprofit devoted to protecting California’s coastline and waterways. Nowadays, her family continues to have many green habits. Their family home was built with an environmental focus:

  • They installed a grey water system to recycle water
  • They used reclaimed wood
  • They are powering the house with solar panels

Dreyfus also drives an electric car, recycles what she can, and shops at the local farmers market.

Dreyfus acknowledges that living a green life may seem overwhelming or difficult, especially at first, but little changes can have a big impact. She refers to the Dalai Lama XIV quote frequently when asked about sustainability:

“If you think you are too small to make a difference, try sleeping with a mosquito.”

The beloved actress also recommends getting involved at the local level. In addition to Heal the Bay, Dreyfus is involved in numerous organizations that combat climate change, including the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), and the Waterkeeper Alliance. She also worked tirelessly to support Proposition O, legislation that allocated over $500 million to cleaning up the water supply in Los Angeles.
This past June, the NRDC honored Dreyfus for her commitment to the organization and climate justice. It was a Night of Comedy with Pete Holmes, Nicole Byer, Tig Notaro, Leslie Jones, Nick Kroll and Chelsea Handler. The event raised $1.8 million dollars for the NRDC, which helps to provide communities access to clean air and water.

 

“In this critical year for climate progress—the support of these comedy all-stars is more important than ever,” said Manish Bapna, president and CEO of Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). “Julia is an extraordinary advocate for the planet, using her voice to raise awareness about the gravity of climate change and providing hope by highlighting solutions. She is a cherished part of the NRDC family, and we are honored to work together to build a cleaner, healthier and more just world.”

As Dreyfus concluded, “You can become involved with local environmental organizations in your own backyard. You can write to your elected officials. You can take to the streets when things aren’t what they need be, fight and protest. Taking action. Don’t just sit on your ass. Do something!”