I just love Cate Blanchett. I love everything she does, I love when she speaks, I love looking at photos of her, I love how amazing she is. These are photos of Cate looking fabulous, of course, in Sydney. She did an event to highlight her work to turn the Sydney theatre district “green”. A rooftop solar installation began construction on the Sydney Theatre Company this week – that the company that Cate and her husband Andrew Upton are directors of. It’s great work, and Cate has put her time and money where her mouth is – but I just can’t over how she’s able to even look fabulous in a hard hat. She’s wonderful.

Cate Blanchett donned a hard hat, commando boots and a smart grey jacket to [promote] the green credentials of the Sydney Theatre Company. Construction commenced this week for a rooftop solar installation, partially funded by the Department of Climate Change, at the theatre at Pier 4, in Sydney’s Walsh Bay.

“Perhaps this whole area stretching from Barangaroo along Hickson Road and all the way to the Opera House [could be done up],” Blanchett said. “We could be well on our way to becoming the first green arts precinct in the world.”

Seventy per cent of the theatre’s energy needs will be provided by the solar panels and Blanchett says all of the companies at The Wharf would benefit from the green power.

“It’s not just the Sydney Theatre Company benefiting from the support of the Department of Climate Change but every single cultural company down here,” she said.

The project, Greening the Wharf, has been the vision of the Sydney Theatre Company’s artistic directors – Blanchett and her husband, playwright Andrew Upton.

“It’s our hope that Greening the Wharf increases awareness of climate change and demonstrates there is a wide range of measures that can be taken to reduce our carbon footprint,” they said in a statement.

It has taken three years of planning and fundraising to get the $5.2 million project off the ground. Blanchett joined MPs at its launch on the theatre’s roof. NSW Arts Minister Virginia Judge praised Blanchett for campaigning for the project, jointly funded by the federal and state governments.

“It’s a real testament to her perseverance, a lot of people have ideas but to stick in there and make sure it happens, we are all going to be blessed because of that effort, energy and vision,” she said.

“This is also a great initiative as all levels of government and agencies working together to get the best possible outcomes for the taxpayers of NSW.”

NSW Environment Minister Frank Sartor also reaffirmed the State Government’s commitment to renewable energy projects.

“We’ve got dozens of these projects around the state and we are starting to change the culture of use of energy and water,” he said. “Hopefully, over time, we will reach a more sustainable place.”

[From ABC News]

It sounds like an excellent initiative. I didn’t even know Cate was involved in any environmental causes, honestly. But she’s been trying to make this happen for three years? Good for her.