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UK live sector launches commitment to reach zero carbon emissions by 2030
By Chris Cooke | Published on Friday 17 September 2021
Representatives for the UK live sector yesterday launched a commitment to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2030 as part of an initiative to ensure that – as the live industry seeks to recover from the COVID shutdown – environmental matters are still high up the priority list.
The commitment is part of a campaign led by LIVE Green, the sustainability wing of LIVE, the recently launched sector-wide trade group for the UK live music industry. The group says that it plans to build on existing sustainability initiatives within the sector, and will “identify and signpost how live music businesses can accelerate their transition to a low carbon future, setting out a roadmap for action in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change”.
LIVE is a trade body of trade bodies, and all of its members have signed up to what it is calling the Beyond Zero Declaration. This is “a voluntary sector-specific commitment to deliver measurable and targeted action on climate change, with the ultimate aim of reaching net zero emissions by 2030”.
By signing up to the declaration, participating groups are committing to “work with LIVE Green to set reduction targets and reduce operational and business travel greenhouse gas emissions, reporting on progress annually; develop a net zero roadmap and action plan – taking responsibility for actions in energy, waste, procurement, transport, food and governance; understand and define emissions within value chains, follow best practice to affect change in areas outside of direct control and collaborate with suppliers and clients to reduce them; and ensure staff undertake climate education and have an ongoing commitment to knowledge sharing within the live music sector and beyond”.
Commenting on the declaration, John Langford, COO of AEG Europe and Chair of LIVE Green, says: “We are now at a tipping point for our climate: this is not a rehearsal. We want to tap into the power of music to help deliver a step-change in the environmental impact of our sector – from carbon emissions through to plastic waste – helping us demonstrate that moving faster towards decarbonisation is a route to a competitive advantage”.
Meanwhile Tom Schroeder at Paradigm Talent Agency adds: “There can be no shying away from the environmental impact of our global business, and although there has been significant progress across the live music sector, now is the time to accelerate our efforts. By bringing together the active specialists and initiatives under one banner, LIVE Green is pioneering a means to fast-track decarbonisation across the sector through education, awareness and tangible action. We look forward to building on the sector’s progress so far, to make our low carbon future a reality”.
