THE BRIEF

Protecting the environment shouldn’t put vulnerable livelihoods at risk, and a new wave of innovators is proving it doesn’t have to.

The Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth (the Center) and The Earthshot Prize set out to champion this idea of shared economic prosperity, and asked Rooftop to show what it looks like in practice. The challenge: environmental progress and financial security pursued as one goal is a hard idea to feel. In a report, it reads as policy. We needed to make it land as lived experience

THE SOLUTION

We worked alongside the Center to identify partners and shape the story, landing on Coast 4C, a 2024 Earthshot Prize Finalist and a best-in-class example of shared prosperity. Coast 4C gives seaweed farmers in the Philippines responsibly sourced materials, financial tools and market access, helping coastal communities thrive while marine ecosystems recover.

Our crew travelled to the Philippines and built the story around the farmers’ hands, their tides and their reasoning. We captured the texture of the place: the weight of a harvest basket, seaweed drying in the sun, a farmer weighing up what a steady income makes possible. By blending observational footage with first-person voices, we let audiences see farmers gaining stability as reefs regain resilience. We also gathered a rich library of film, photography and stories to power content across multiple channels.

THE IMPACT

The film premiered at CFIGs Global Inclusive Growth Summit in Washington DC where it was played to financial and political industry leaders. The Earthshot Prize used the content extensively across its social media channels. The content was compiled into a report and microsite titled “Unlocking Critical Finance for Climate & Economic Resilience”. The work keeps shifting the conversation from trade-offs towards a simpler truth: when we invest in people alongside the planet, both move forward.

THE FILM

THE DETAILS