Award-Winning Climate Documentary “The White House Effect” to Screen at Firehouse Center for the Arts, Newburyport – May 18
April 25, 2025April 25, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Newburyport
Award-Winning Climate Documentary “The White House
Effect” to Screen at Firehouse Center for the Arts
The Newburyport Documentary Film Festival and
the City of Newburyport Resiliency Committee are proud to present a special screening of the
critically acclaimed documentary “The White House Effect” on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 6:00
PM at the Firehouse Center for the Arts in Newburyport. This powerful film will serve as the
capstone event for Green Expo 2025, offering attendees a deeper understanding of climate
policy history and its impact on our present environmental challenges.
A PIVOTAL MOMENT IN CLIMATE HISTORY REVEALED
Directed by the acclaimed team of Bonni Cohen, Pedro Kos, and Jon Shenk, “The White House
Effect” examines a crucial missed opportunity in climate history. Through meticulously curated
archival footage, the documentary focuses on the George H.W. Bush administration
(1988–1992), a period when Bush promised to use “the White House effect” to address the
growing concern of global warming.
The film reveals the internal struggle within the administration as President Bush found himself
caught between competing interests: his chief of staff John Sununu and industry leaders
advocating for minimal regulation on one side, and his EPA chief Bill Reilly and climate
scientists pushing for meaningful action on the other. This tension culminates at the 1992 Rio
Earth Summit, where U.S. actions ultimately undermined global emissions agreements, setting
the stage for the climate challenges we face today.
WHY THIS FILM MATTERS TO OUR COMMUNITY
On Saturday May 18 from 1-4, the community is invited to Green Expo 2025 to explore practical
sustainability solutions. The Expo culminates with a screening of the “The White House Effect”
which provides essential historical context for understanding why climate action remains
challenging today. By examining this pivotal moment in environmental policy history, viewers
can better appreciate the complex forces that shape climate initiatives and the critical
importance of community-led sustainability efforts like Green Expo 2025.
“Understanding our climate policy history is crucial to charting a better path forward,” said Jane
Healy, Chair of the Newburyport Resiliency Committee. “This film offers valuable insights into
how political and economic factors have influenced our response to climate change, making it a
perfect complement to the solutions-focused exhibits at Green Expo.”
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Sunday, May 18, 2025
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Firehouse Center for the Arts, 1 Market Square, Newburyport, MA
Tickets: Pay-what-you-can, $10 suggested donation
Ticket Purchasing: Available through the Firehouse box office or online at Firehouse.org
Please note: This is a separate ticketed event from the daytime Green Expo activities.
ABOUT THE FILM
“The White House Effect” is a riveting look at a key moment in the history of the climate crisis,
woven entirely from archival material. The documentary tracks cause and effect with precision to
reveal how the promise to tackle global warming became increasingly hollow as political and
industry pressures mounted. As climate concerns become ever more urgent in our community
and worldwide, this film offers valuable perspective on how we arrived at our current situation.
ABOUT THE ORGANIZERS
This screening is presented in conjunction with the 2025 Greater Newburyport Green Expo,
made possible through funding from the City of Newburyport Resiliency Committee, via a grant
from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs’ Municipal
Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) Program. It is co-sponsored by the Newburyport
Documentary Film Festival.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Sarah Tappan
Newburyport Resiliency Committee
978-337-3956
sarahnbpt@gmail.com
