Starting today in Dallas, over 100,000 attendees are projected to come through EarthX, which organizers call “the world’s largest Earth Day Celebration.”

This year’s event will include an expanded EarthXInteractive program, an off-shoot of EarthXFilm which in 2017 included seven VR films and has now expanded to “40 virtual, augmented and mixed reality projects and educational workshops.” There visitors will get to explore the lives of endangered species from the far corners of the planet.

We corresponded with EarthX’s team through their PR representatives to get a bit more insight into the programming of this weekend’s event.

NoProscenium: What advantages does immersive technology provide to connect people with environmental messages that classical storytelling doesn’t?

EarthX: Immersive technology allows our audiences to feel truly transported to gorgeous natural worlds. Viewers can join rescue efforts for orangutans, dance with flamingos, go swimming with dolphins and endangered whales, explore space with NASA and join NatGeo expeditions and anti-poaching efforts in Africa. Being wrapped in the 360 content allows audiences to feel much more viscerally present for adventures and environmental initiatives. When this involves seeing endangered species in need of rescue efforts and oceans in need of cleanups, we’ve seen that audiences have a profound sense of being in the moment and feel the need to take action more than they would with traditional film.

NP: How much of what’s on display is embodied and how much is 360 video sit-down experiences?

EX: As we have over 40 unique films to share — and more being added daily for audiences to enjoy — we can share that EarthxInteractive will host a diverse mix of embodied and 360 sit-down experiences.

NP: How many people do you expect to come through EarthXInteractive?

EX:Last year, the event brought in over 137,000 attendees, 400 speakers and 650 exhibitors. This year, with continued growth and success, the event is set to bring in 500 speakers and 850 exhibitors and counting.

NP: People don’t usually put “Texas” and “environmentalism” in the same sentence. Could you tell us a bit about how Earth X relates to Dallas, which I know I still think of as the oil capital of the United States?

EX: Our founder, Trammell S. Crow, was born and raised in Dallas to a wealthy Republican family, yet loves the planet — these are not mutually exclusive qualities. When he founded EarthX nine years ago, it was with a belief in bringing together ideologies, parties, religions, nationalities, races, classes and ages, recognizing where our relationship with the world around us deserves some consideration.

Now in its ninth year, Earthx2019 will be held April 26 to 28, 2019 at Fair Park in Dallas, hosting an international gathering of concerned environmental citizens, educators, businesses, nonprofit organizations, and thought leaders to celebrate global sustainability. The event will include three days of exhibitions, a film festival, music, entertainment, learning experiences, discussions, forums, and conferences making it, once again, the world’s largest gathering to positively discuss achievable solutions for environmental change. It has grown to be the second-largest hosted event in Dallas, attracting more than 100,000 green consumers each year.

We understand that consumer adoption drives demand, and ultimately increases access and reduces prices. If we can help connect good sustainable ideas with investment, diplomatic channels, and development, then we can limit the time wasted pointing fingers, and instead start working side-by-side.

EarthX now includes nine conferences and several separate on-site meetings bringing together more diverse global perspectives than have ever been involved in a collective discussion about the future of our planet. Fifty years ago, Earth Day didn’t even exist. But, here we are in 2019 with the world’s largest Earth Day event convening once again in Texas of all places. Texan or not, we can all gather as humans to do our best to make a better, cleaner, healthier planet for future generations.

EarthX runs through Sunday the 28th at Fair Park in Dallas.

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