THE O2 & 1975 BRING US THE WORLDS FIRST CARBON REMOVED CONCERT
GEI16’s “The World First Carbon-Removed Gig: The 1975 @ The O2 Arena” panel, hosted by AEG’s Chief Operating Officer, John Langford and Sam Booth, talked about “game-changing steps” in making the live sector a genuine net-zero industry. Together, AEG, A Greener Festival, CUR8 and The 1975, pulled off the world’s first Carbon-removed concert at the O2 Arena.
SPONSORING GEI16: GREEN EVENTS AND INNOVATIONS conference
On the 27th of February sustainability specialists A Greener Future (AGF) and the International Live Music Conference (ILMC) hosted their 16th annual sustainability conference GEI16. As proud sponsors of the event, we attended with an eagerness to learn even more about how we can play a role in making the events industry more sustainable.
The event was jam-packed with industry experts leading talks on new sustainable practices, greening the stage, and the journey to achieving true net-zero status in the live events industry.
Removing over 500 tonnes of carbon from the atmosphere
The owner of The O2, AEG Europe, worked alongside carbon removal experts CUR8 and AGF to bring us the world’s first carbon-removed gig. Rock weathering and biochar are just a few techniques used for the removal of carbon. After much anticipation for how much carbon was removed, the results are here!
Over 540 tonnes of residual carbon was removed across the four shows. This is staggering equivalent to “the yearly electricity usage of 395 average homes.”
Following the success of the The 1975’s concerts, it’s clear that fully net-zero events are the future of live shows.
This raises the question: What exactly is a carbon-removed event? It’s when event organisers take specific measures to remove carbon from the atmosphere. They start by calculating their environmental impact, considering factors such as audience travel, merchandise, catering, transport, and energy usage. A carbon-removed gig aims to minimise the event’s environmental footprint.
Sam Booth stated, “There is a need to convince artists and bands to come on this journey with us and get on board with it and to open up conversations that wouldn’t normally be had.”
Artists role in sustainable shows
“Artists with significant leverage are starting to use their power to drive their own sustainable goals”- Ross Patel. Wasserman Music’s EVP & Managing Executive, Tom Schroeder, emphasised the need for sustainability to become standard practice in the industry, not just limited to a few artists. He emphasised the benefits of more efficient touring and scaled-down production, leading to reduced carbon footprints and increased profitability for all involved.
There is a notion, that artists want to speak up on environmental issues, but feel hypocritical as they themselves are not making sustainable steps in becoming more environmentally friendly.
a sustainable success
Everyone played their part. Organising an event of this magnitude requires accountability, and each organisation involved stepped up to the plate. The O2 Arena managed electricity and gas, caterers handled food and beverage, and the band took charge of sustainable transportation and logistics.
For more information on GEI16, click here.
Photo Credit: ShotAway
