The first-ever sponsor of SXSW’s Climate & Sustainability track, NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) will be hosting two events at the festival in March to draw attention to the need to protect Mexico’s Gulf of California from a proposed liquified natural gas (LNG) project: an immersive experience that will bring the beauty of the Gulf of California to festival goers in Austin for three days, and a panel discussion moderated by Mexican actor, director and producer Gael García Bernal on the importance of this special place. Details for each event follow below.
Considered one of the most globally renowned areas of biodiversity anywhere on Earth, the Gulf of California is a World Heritage Site designated by UNESCO and a Biosphere Reserve designated by Mexico. It has famously been called “The World’s Aquarium” by renowned oceanographer Jacques-Yves Cousteau. It is home to multiple species of great whales and countless other land and marine species, including 39 percent of all marine mammal species, including blue and fin whales, whale sharks, Leatherback sea turtles, and thousands more.
Right now, however, it is threatened by a proposal from Houston-based Mexico Pacific—backed by oil and gas giants like Shell, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and more, and by J.P. Morgan as financial advisor—that would turn this area into a sacrifice zone to export LNG piped and shipped from Texas and New Mexico halfway around the world. The project would bring massive amounts of infrastructure, tanker ships, and climate pollution to this ecologically sensitive place. Doing so would threaten endangered whales and countless other species that call the Gulf home and fundamentally alter this special place forever.
Participants at these events will have the opportunity to sign this action alert urging J.P. Morgan not to support the project.
“Time and again, we’ve seen how entertainment and culture have the power to bring people together, and create lasting change on the most pressing issues of our time. SXSW is a perfect venue to rally a passionate audience to protect this unique place from destruction at the hands of Big Oil,” said Katy Jacobs, Entertainment Partnerships Director, NRDC. “It’s more critical than ever to shift our culture to support protecting the planet. Our programming will allow festivalgoers to not only learn about the Gulf of California, but experience its unmatched natural beauty—and use their voice to defend it.”
IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE: “The World’s Aquarium”
WHAT: Experience the beauty of the marine paradise we can’t afford to lose to Big Oil. This immersive experience will be open to the public for three days.
WHEN: March 10-12, 2025, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CT
WHERE: Hilton Austin Downtown, 4th Floor Prefunction
MORE INFO: https://schedule.sxsw.com/2025/events/OE45361
PANEL: “Wall Street, Big Oil and their Planet-Destroying Love Affair”
WHAT: The science has never been clearer: fossil fuels are displacing vulnerable communities, destroying UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Gulf of California, and pushing the planet towards climate disaster. And yet, the fossil fuel industry continues to pursue its reckless expansion plans in the name of extravagant profits, aided and abetted by Wall Street’s desire to cash in on dirty investments. Join experts as they discuss how this dangerous love affair comes at the expense of our future.
WHO: Gael García Bernal, Actor, Director and Producer
Pablo Montaño, Executive Director, Conexiones Climáticas in Mexico
Joel Reynolds, Senior Attorney, Senior Institutional Strategist, NRDC
Mima Holt, Global Coordinator, International, NRDC
WHEN: March 10, 2025, 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. CT
WHERE: Hilton Austin Downtown, Salon A
Culture Elixir 
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