Tyndall Centre roadmap helps deliver lowest-carbon live music event of its kind
A from ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½â€™s Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research has revealed that their ‘ successfully supported Massive Attack in delivering the lowest-carbon live music event of its kind.
Commissioned by the band, the roadmap set out clear, measurable targets for the live music industry to significantly reduce its carbon footprint and align with the Paris Agreement.
Using this framework, Massive Attack hosted ACT 1.5 – a one-day music festival over the August bank holiday in 2024.
Analysis in the new report shows that the event had significant reductions in carbon emissions compared to a typical outdoor concert, including:
- 81-98% emissions reduction from power
- 89% emissions reductions from food/catering
- 70% emissions reductions from equipment haulage
- 73% emissions reductions from artist travel
The festival was attended by over 32,000 fans and implemented a range of climate measures, including:
- The first ever 100% battery powered festival of its size
- Electric trucks taking batteries offsite to recharge with renewable power
- 100% plant-based catering
- The provision of five times extra show trains one hour after the national network had closed
- Fleets of electric shuttles buses to get fans home.
To evaluate the event’s carbon impact, the Tyndall Centre team—led by ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½â€™s Professor Carly McLachlan and Dr Chris Jones—worked with leading sustainability organisation A Greener Future (AGF). They analysed emissions data from ACT 1.5 and compared it to a hypothetical outdoor concert where environmental measures have not been prioritised.
The results revealed the concert produced the lowest ever carbon emissions from a show of its kind.
It is hoped that the roadmap and insights from the Act 1.5 show are used by other event organisers to transform the live music industry.
Professor Carly McLachlan, Associate Director at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research at ÌÇÐÄVlog¹Ù·½, said: "This proof-of-concept show could change the landscape for outdoor festivals. It demonstrated that there are real opportunities for promoters, providers, local authorities and central government to create the conditions for the UK to lead the world in super-low carbon events. A willingness to do things differently was demonstrated by the audience and crew members alike. The unwavering commitment to sustainability from senior members of the production team, including the artist, was essential for the success of the show and inspiring to see.â€
“This proof-of-concept show could change the landscape for outdoor festivals.â€
While many of the attendees took advantage of incentives to travel by low carbon options such as rail – including VIP bar wristbands for rail travellers, a localised pre-sale, the chartering of trains and the provision of free electric shuttle buses to train stations – data shows that 5% of the audience chose to fly to the show. Those who flew were responsible for 64% of the overall greenhouse gas emissions of the show.
Robert Del Naja, 3D – Massive Attack, said: “Massive Attack are hugely grateful to both the team and the fans that produced a world leading event, and to the scientists and analysts who - via the huge progressive leaps made in producing the ACT 1.5 show - identified a serious emerging issue for all live music events in the context of climate emergency. If fans are encouraged to tour the world to see their favourite artists this sector can simply forget about hitting any emissions reductions targets, let alone Paris 1.5 compatibility. There's a huge question now for tour planning, but also for media and promotor marketing campaigns high on the glitz of epic summer tours that normalise leisure aviation."
Mark Donne, ACT 1.5 Lead Producer, added: “Evidently this show proved to be the cleanest, greenest festival event ever staged - but in terms of popular take up of clean practices, it feels like we and others working on this stuff are attempting to create smart productions within dumb regulation.
“Music fans showed quite categorically that they are up for taking the train if there are reliable services available and they can get to the station post-show - but those arrangements are unnecessarily bureaucratic, with dysfunctional timings that must be made simpler. High polluting power sources like diesel that dominate the festival world, creating huge amounts of greenhouse gas and toxic air pollution for those that live near festival sites, or work on them are cheap and abundant. Central and local government must address this urgently, either via regulation or a deterrent tax. Clean technology is ready – it just needs to be facilitated; fans want clean shows, that’s very clear. The challenge for promoters and government now is to meet that need.â€