Green festivals that are a ‘dead niche’ need to be mainstreamed
There are now scores of festivals catering to every taste.
UN Music and Environment Initiative noted that music was “one of most powerful media for communicating environmental messages to millions of people around the world regardless of race or religion, income, age, gender, or age.” Music’s ability to excite our senses is undeniable, but the industry as a whole faces many challenges to being more environmentally sustainable. The music industry is based on production and consumption so that any changes could affect its economic model.
Festivals have a major impact on the environment, causing problems with traffic, waste, water, and litter.
The UK music industry accounts for 75% of total carbon dioxide emissions. Of this, 43% is from the travel of audience members. The figures are conservative and do not include the waste and emissions generated by food and drinks, despite large gatherings testing water and energy resources.
Europe is leading the way.
A number of festivals in Europe have joined the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) initiative. The International Organisation for Standardisation 2012 standard was also developed for those who wish to stage environmentally sustainable events. Highlighted festivals include Hove, in Norway, which has achieved carbon neutrality, and Roskilde, in Denmark, where the European Environment Agency sent out various messages about the state of the European environment in 2009.
Angela Connolly is the Author who provided this article.
Several UK festivals are also addressing climate change. Glastonbury is making a huge effort to improve its sustainability. They have installed 1,200 compostable restrooms, encouraged the reduction of waste, and promoted the culture of recycling.
Julie’s Bicycle is an organization dedicated to promoting sustainability in the arts. They have developed a variety of tools that festival organizers can use to reduce and measure their carbon footprint.
This year, the high-profile T in The Park festival held at Strathallan Castle, Perthshire, caused controversy when it was relocated to an area where protected ospreys were present. The planning approval was only granted after the main stage moved and exclusion areas were created.
Changing behaviour
There is always something more to do. It is important not to overlook the hundreds of smaller festivals. Our research is focused on Scotland, and we go beyond the technical efforts to provide green energy and manage waste. We are interested in the various perspectives of sustainability held by the temporary communities who gather at festivals.
Creative Carbon Scotland. Angela Connelly, Author, provided
We attended two of these festivals armed with musical instruments and surveys. We came across a catering vehicle that re-used food waste and asked festivalgoers what they considered a “fair price.”
It isn’t easy to understand the audience’s behavior. From recycling to divestment, we engaged in many conversations about climate change. Scotland has plenty of water, we heard. It’s not necessary to conserve water. Or that people feel they are on a “responsibility vacation,” which confirms evidence that even the most dedicated environmentalists will take a break during a slow period. One festival-goer described our activities as a “dead niche.”
We want to begin a discussion on how climate change can be mainstreamed in the Scottish Live Music sector and beyond. It is important to have a culture shift, both from the top and the bottom. This means that we need to communicate the climate challenge in all formats available and go beyond just the technical realm of energy efficiency goals.
