Photo credit: Raph_PH / CC from 2.0
Coldplay claims its touring carbon emissions have fallen by 47%, narrowly missing the 50% target and setting a new standard to finally achieve carbon neutral music events.
Coldplay announced a 47 percent reduction in carbon emissions Music of the Spheres Tour compared to their previous stadium tour in 2016-17 and just missed their 50 percent target.
The band reports Green measures included implementing a battery electric system to power the entire show, using electric vehicles and alternative fuels where possible, and reducing waste and plastic. Coldplay also reports that it has funded the planting of more than 5 million trees – one for every concert-goer.
“It’s a good start – and something our incredible crew should be very proud of – but there’s clearly room for improvement,” says the band. “Now that we are in the second year of the tour, we have started to power the entire show (audio, lights, lasers, etc.) with an electric battery system, which allows us to use 100% renewable energy as efficiently as possible possible to use.”
“Thank you to all the brilliant people and creative minds who have helped us so far,” the band continues, also thanking everyone who has attended a Coldplay show. “They helped recharge the show batteries on the power bikes and the kinetic dance floors; traveled to shows by foot, bike, or public transportation; carpooling; used the recycling bins; refillable water bottles brought along; returned the LED bracelets after the show.
“And just by coming, you’ve planted a tree and helped a number of environmental organizations like The Ocean Cleanup and ClientEarth (a team of advocates working for the environment). Thank you all and I hope we have made great progress by this time next year.”
Professor John E. Fernandez of the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative also endorsed Coldplay’s work as “an important and substantial step towards a new era of eventually achieving carbon neutral music events by major artists.”
“Based on a detailed review of the work of Coldplay’s sustainability team in assessing and advising the band and management on the carbon footprint of touring, we fully support these efforts as extremely important, scientifically sound and of the highest quality.”