Actor-activist Jane Fonda visits John Allaire, retired environmental engineer and Southwest Louisiana resident, in ‘Gaslit.’
Oscar-winning actress Jane Fonda has swapped Hollywood for Texas oilfields and Gulf Coast communities to spotlight an urgent environmental crisis. Her new documentary, Gaslit, examines the real-world impact of liquefied natural gas (LNG) expansion on frontline communities.
The film makes its world premiere on February 5 at the Santa Barbara Film Festival and is produced by Greenpeace USA. Directed by Katie Camosy, Gaslit follows Fonda as she visits towns and communities directly affected by LNG production.
The Human Cost of LNG
A recent analysis by Greenpeace USA and the Sierra Club revealed that LNG terminals generate “deadly air pollution,” causing an estimated 60 premature deaths and $957 million in annual health costs. If planned expansions go forward, these numbers could rise to 149 deaths and $2.33 billion in health-related costs each year.
The Natural Resources Defense Council also warns that LNG is “neither clean nor low in greenhouse gas emissions.” LNG terminals are often located near biodiversity hotspots, and cargo traffic disturbs marine life. In contrast, the Center for LNG claims that U.S. natural gas is abundant, reliable, and a low-carbon energy choice for consumers globally.
On the Ground with Jane Fonda
In the documentary, Fonda meets John Allaire, a retired environmental engineer from Southwest Louisiana, alongside a diverse cast that includes actress Connie Britton and Grammy-nominated musician Maggie Rogers.
“It looks like we’re driving into a s**t storm,” Fonda says in the trailer while navigating a landscape filled with oil derricks and LNG facilities. A passenger responds, “Yeah, we are, literally.” Fonda also uses a methane-detecting camera to expose invisible emissions. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, significantly contributes to climate change.
“It’s shocking!” Fonda exclaims. “Massive clouds of methane coming through… I’m so angry.”
Voices from the Frontline
Gaslit captures stories of shrimpers, cattle ranchers, former oil workers, faith leaders, and community organizers confronting the impacts of LNG expansion. Many identify as “reluctant activists,” yet they unite to defend their homes and coastlines.
Fonda tells these community members, “I hereby promise you that I will do everything in my power until the day I die to make sure people know what’s going on here.”
In a statement, she emphasized, “This boom isn’t just about oil and gas – it’s about injustice, pollution, and the destruction of entire communities. Gaslit amplifies the voices of everyday Americans who are too often ignored. They confront overwhelming power, even when everything is at stake.”
A Call to Action
The film frames the ongoing LNG expansion as a decades-long struggle between fossil fuel profits and community survival. Camosy says, “Now more than ever, we need the world to hear directly from those experiencing the climate crisis firsthand. Gaslit visually represents the movement and the people fighting for their lives every day.”
She added, “We are deeply grateful to the Gulf South communities for their leadership. We hope audiences leave the theater both outraged and inspired by their stories.”
Gaslit promises not only to inform but also to spark action, showing that the fight against climate and environmental injustice is both urgent and personal.
