Massive Attack urge UK government and major promoters to reduce carbon emissions in live music

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  • The call comes as the band launch their "Roadmap To Super Low Carbon Live Music."
  • Massive Attack urge UK government and major promoters to reduce carbon emissions in live music image
  • Massive Attack have published their "Roadmap To Super Low Carbon Live Music." The study was commissioned by the band in 2019 and has been produced by the Tyndall Centre For Climate Change Research, a partnership of universities bringing together experts to develop sustainable responses to climate change. The roadmap puts forward measurable targets for the live music sector in order to play a leading role in meeting the Paris Agreement on climate change. Key findings and suggestions in the study include eliminating the use of private jets, a six-point plan for venues and festivals to transfer audience transportation to electrified transport, and phasing out the use of diesel generators at festivals by 2025. It also says the sector must act collaboratively in order to support smaller venues and festivals that may not otherwise be able to meet new, improved regulations. "The major promoters simply must do more," says Robert Del Naja of Massive Attack. "It can't be left to artists to continually make these public appeals. But our sector is operating in a government void. Where is the plan for investment… for a live music sector that generates £4.6 billion for the economy every year and employs more than 200,000 dedicated people? It simply doesn't exist." Professor Carly McLachlan of the Tyndall Centre argues that "touring practices need to be reassembled" and that "this starts from the very inception of a tour and requires the creativity and innovation of artists, managers, promoters, designers and agents to be unleashed to establish new ways of planning and delivering live music tours." In response to the results of the roadmap, Massive Attack—who have already been offsetting their carbon emissions for years—have now set out six modules to reduce carbon emissions on their 2022 tour. They will later collate their learnings to share with the industry to encourage widespread change. Read the "Roadmap To Super Low Carbon Live Music" here.
RA