Jaden Smith and Shailene Woodley honoured at environmental awards

24 Oct 2016 |

Jaden Smith and Shailene Woodley were among the stars recognised at the Environmental Media Association (EMA) Awards on Saturday (22Oct16).The 18-year-old actor, model and activist was supported by parents Will and Jada Pinkett Smith, sister Willow and half-brother Trey as he was presented with the Male EMA Futures Award at the ceremony on the Warner Bros. lot in Burbank, California.For the occasion, Jaden sported a striking white patterned long jacket over a T-shirt bearing the slogan JUST Water. This referenced the environmental organisation he's a part of, supporting the packaging of bottled water in renewable materials in a bid to lower the carbon footprint. He also carried a bottle of the water on the red carpet, as he posed somewhat sullenly next to his beaming father.

In a statement after his award victory was initially announced, Jaden said: "It's important for everyone to know that you can make a difference no matter what obstacles you think are in your way."After seeing the amount of ocean pollution and the effect it was having on marine wildlife, I couldn't stand there and do nothing about it - I knew I had to take action. With the Male EMA Futures Award, our voices are being amplified and we're making a difference. Having the support from an organisation that shares the same values as me makes the future more optimistic than ever."

Divergent actress Shailene took home the Female EMA Futures Award at the ceremony, which comes just weeks after she was arrested after peacefully protesting against the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline on Sioux tribal land in North Dakota on 10 October (16).After accepting her award, and being given a standing ovation from the crowd after her speech, Shailene opened up to Entertainment Tonight backstage about why she feels so strongly about environmental issues. "We are an environmental issue! Right? We are the environment," she said.

"We are the soil, we come from the earth. In order to survive we need oxygen."For me, it's not about helping the environment or saving the environment. It's about recognising that if I want my children to know a world where Manhattan isn't all the way under water - because guess what, ladies and gentlemen, that world is not too distant and it's a reality that we must start facing and waking up to - (then) we've gotta work our asses off now to make that happen. And I'm down for that cause because I love this Earth. I love humanity." Nikki Reed and Ian Somerhalder were among the other famous faces who attended the ceremony, hosted by Nicole Richie.