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HOLLYWOOD (February 25, 2007) - The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) made history tonight by partnering with the producers of the 79th Annual Academy Awards to significantly reduce the impact the telecast and related events had on the environment, setting a high profile example for an estimated 40 million viewers at a time when global warming, soaring energy demand and threats to forests and other landscapes are the focus of rising national attention.

The Academy Award's first-ever greening initiative -- which included a variety of energy-saving solutions -- was led by NRDC in collaboration with Oscar producer Laura Ziskin. The effort included offsetting carbon emissions of the pre-show, the red carpet event, the telecast, and the Governor's Ball; incorporating environmental features into the greenroom design; promoting recycling and reducing waste generated by the annual event; and using recycled materials in paper products, including the Oscar ballots themselves.

Leonardo DiCaprio, an NRDC trustee and nominee for Best Actor, announced this landmark initiative with former Vice President Al Gore during the live Oscar telecast. According to Mr. DiCaprio, "For the first time in the history of the Oscars, environmentally intelligent practices have been thoughtfully integrated into the planning of tonight's event to make our world healthier and help combat the threat of global warming."

This innovative project, which will be further enhanced at Oscar events in years to come, targeted ecologically significant impacts, including global warming pollution and energy use, paper products, set design, transportation, and food service.

"By announcing this initiative from such a legendary and respected stage, the Academy is reaching tens-of-millions of people across the world with a message that cleaner, more sensible energy choices and a simple commitment to environmental stewardship are Oscar-worthy endeavors for everyone," said Frances Beinecke, NRDC President. "On behalf of the NRDC, I would like to salute Oscar producer Laura Ziskin who worked to reduce the environmental impact of this production by making the Academy Awards carbon neutral, cutting waste, and choosing environmentally preferable materials."

NRDC, the nation's leading environmental research and advocacy organization, was instrumental in helping to oversee every aspect of this collaboration with the producer to assure that ecologically intelligent practices were implemented. The organization arranged for the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power to conduct an energy audit of the production and related events to assess their impact on the environment, and advised the production team on changes that could be made to save energy, encourage the use of recycled paper, prevent waste, and offset carbon emissions.