Is it easier to convince people with humor?

Laura Ghazal: Easier? That’s hard to say. But humor allows me to reach people I couldn’t otherwise. If you come at audiences too aggressively, you risk turning them off completely and losing them. It’s better to aim for small, steady progress than to ask people to make radical changes too quickly. That said, it’s not without its risks. Humor can be really polarizing – it either works or it doesn’t. It’s also easier to make people cry than to make them laugh. But comedy is a tool I love to work with – I’ve used it in two stand-up shows, several podcasts, and humor columns for So Good magazine. It’s also where I feel like I’m most useful.

How did your two series, released in time for Earth Day, come to life?

Générations carbone (2024) and Là-haut sur la montagne (2025) are the result of a groundbreaking decision by TV5MONDE: to tackle environmental issues through comedy – something no other network in France had done before. The two shows complement each other in their editorial approach, very-short format (each episode is between 1 and 7 minutes), and sense of humor. The first is a collection of snapshots showing how people of different ages respond to environmental issues. The second, with its recurring characters and single setting, has a vibe similar to Les Bronzés font du ski, except the year is 2080 and all the snow is gone! Cécile Quéniart, the deputy content director at TV5MONDE, was immediately on board.

Why did you choose the mountains, rather than the ocean for example, to explore environmental issues?

I wrote the script for Là-haut sur la montagne in the fall of 2024, just as a wave of articles started coming out about snowfall in French ski areas, with headlines like, “Will there be enough snow this season?” That really caught my attention.

Winter 2023-2024 was dramatic, indeed, and several French resorts announced they were shutting down.

My approach is to raise awareness through humor, without being anxiety-inducing or moralizing. Sure, I could have said that the end of winter sports is already here, that some low- and mid-altitude resorts have already shut their doors for good. But I chose a timeline that feels less alarming. That said, 2080 wasn’t a random choice. Scientists estimate that by the end of this century, ski areas around the world will no longer have natural snow. It’s a date that’s close enough to feel real, but far enough away that people don’t feel completely overwhelmed.

How did you prepare to write the script?

I did some good old-fashioned googling! The 2080 deadline comes from a study by the University of Waterloo in Canada. From there, I started looking into how climate change is affecting winter sports and mountain ecosystems. That quickly led me to biodiversity issues, and I learned that marmots are now among the species at risk of extinction. One episode of Là-haut sur la montagne actually touches on that. With a format this short, I’m not trying to make a climate documentary, but I do make an effort not to spread misinformation. Everything in the show is within the realm of possibility.

Did the scientific community respond positively to your work?

We had a screening at the Climate Academy in Paris, and I was really happy to see that the scientists and activist organizations in the audience gave it their stamp of approval. That kind of crowd can be a bit skeptical when it comes to humor – especially around something as serious as climate change – but they appreciated seeing a lighter approach. Some researchers even asked if they could use episodes of Là-haut sur la montagne to introduce their conferences! They understand that what we’re doing is complementary: Through humor, I’m trying to reach people who have tuned out of scientific and activist messaging – because these days, people are shutting down and don’t want to hear anything that feels too heavy or anxiety-inducing.

Eco-anxiety is becoming increasingly common…

It’s a real social issue. As part of a column I did for So Good, I recently joined a support group for people dealing with eco-anxiety and eco-depression. It really shook me to see just how many people in France are experiencing such deep distress. These are often people who are deeply committed to the environment, and when they look ahead at how dark our future might be, they spiral into panic. That experience actually inspired one of the episodes of Générations carbone, “Les éco-blasés.” This general sense of environmental despair is heavy. If I can bring even a little bit of lightness with my shows, so much the better!

On a personal level, where have you found your balance between eco-depression and burying your head in the sand?

It’s not easy right now, but I’m trying not to get depressed! We all have to find the balance that works for us. We can’t give up every polluting activity overnight – it has to be a gradual process. Over the past few years, I’ve given up a lot of things, but I did it at my own pace, so I wouldn’t feel overwhelmed. My carbon footprint is smaller than it was five years ago… but I’ve also had kids. I know there’s still room for improvement.

What eco-friendly habits have you adopted in your daily life?

First of all, I have a particular relationship with water. I haven’t taken a bath in years, and I’ve shortened the time I spend in the shower. When a glass isn’t empty or I need to rinse something, I save the water for my plants. I collect empty bottles next to the kitchen sink to reuse it! My partner makes fun of me, but I do think my water consumption has gone way down. I also eat much less red meat now. I’m more mindful of our energy consumption in winter. I’ve switched to biking (a miracle – I’m a true Parisian and didn’t get to bike around the countryside as a kid!), I take the train as much as possible, and I barely use my car anymore. I buy very few new clothes, and my daughters are dressed exclusively in thrift stores. In short, a lot of small gestures that,  when added up, really make a difference.

What about ski vacations, which are very energy-intensive?

My partner and I have been wondering: Should we take our kids skiing? Yes, so they can have that experience before all the snow melts? Or no, because the activity contributes to global warming? I don’t have an answer. I think we can still enjoy the mountains, but we need to minimize our impact. Skiing itself and the lifts don’t have the largest carbon footprint. The real issue today is transportation to the resorts, accommodation, and food there. And those are areas where we can make a difference.

Let’s go back to your work. How did you choose Chamrousse, near Grenoble, as the filming location for Là-haut sur la montagne?

Chamrousse chose us! Given our modest budget, we needed a partner who could help us, provide lodging, and lend us ski equipment. Most resort owners don’t like talking about how snow is bound to disappear, but I found out that Chamrousse was really open to environmental topics. The director of the tourism bureau read the script and made sure we weren’t going to engage in any “ski-bashing.” In the end, he agreed to host us, making the project possible. He opened up the resort for us in October 2024, and ironically, I was crossing my fingers hoping it wouldn’t snow during the shoot!

Which character from Là-haut sur la montagne or Générations carbone do you identify with the most?

I’m the mom in “Bébé carbone”! Everything started with this episode of Générations carbone: I self-produced that very short film back in 2021, before TV5MONDE asked me to turn it into a full series. I had just become a mom, and people kept pointing out that having a child isn’t exactly eco-friendly. I was feeling lost, and I wrote this slightly dark little film that’s very much me. You’re probably thinking I’m a terrible mother! But making films is also a way to blow off some steam. And if you want to be funny while talking about climate issues, you have to be ready to make fun of yourself. That’s why there’s a lot of self-deprecation in both shows.

You also poke fun at baby boomers, who sometimes struggle to keep up with environmental issues. How does that generation respond to your humor?

I’m 41, but I consider myself a boomer too! A young boomer, but a boomer nonetheless. That’s why I talked about self-deprecation. My generation is caught in the middle: During our childhood, we were told that flying to Barcelona for a weekend was a symbol of success, and now, suddenly, we’re told we need to stop consuming so much. It’s confusing. I also gently make fun of Gen Z – in episodes of Générations carbone like “Garde tes poubelles” and “Chewing-gum” – but it’s really up to us, the older generations, to completely rethink our way of living. That idea is even more present in Là-haut sur la montagne, where I wanted kids to look at their parents with a bit of distance, seeing them as lost. I feel lost myself. There’s a lot of talk about “deconstructing” sexism, and I think it’s the same with environmentalism: We’re dismantling all those success symbols we grew up with in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s. This can lead to some strange, even funny behaviors. That’s exactly what I wanted to highlight with these two series: our contradictions, and the humor in them. We’re not perfect, but we’re all in the same boat. And it’s on all of us to make an effort, together.

Now streaming exclusively on TV5MONDEplus, with subtitles in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, and Romanian:

Read more exclusive Q&As:

Meet Mr. Francosphere of Destination Francophonie

Paris' Bouquinistes: The Story Behind the Iconic Booksellers

Jean-Michel Basquiat, Paris for Ever: Before his death in 1988, the little prince of New York’s contemporary art scene made several trips to Paris. Supported by a small group of local pioneers, he found in France a refuge, a source of inspiration, and a new audience. Now streaming on TV5MONDEplus.

Notre-Dame Résurrection: Step into the restoration of the century! Notre Dame reopened its doors after a terrible fire and 2,064 days of closure. For four and a half years, filmmaker Xavier Lefebvre and his crew followed the rebuilding project to create a breathtaking documentary, now streaming on TV5MONDEplus.

Paris Fashion Week turns 50! In this captivating documentary, journalist and filmmaker Loïc Prigent delves into the oral history of this major fashion event, celebrating its fiftieth anniversary this year. We invite you to read his interview by Clément Thiery for more in depth insights to discover.