Massive Attack have released findings of their report, in partnership with the Tyndall Centre for Climate Research, which proposes action for the “urgent and significant reassembly” of the music industry to combat the climate crisis.

The report, the Roadmap to Super Low Carbon Live Music, outlines the immediate elimination of private jet use, a switch to electric transportation for concerts and festivals, and the phasing out of diesel generators at festivals by 2025.

Other suggestions include “plug and play models for venues,” which would reduce the burden of transporting gear, and would see the standardisation of equipment at all venues, implemented collaboratively to ensure that smaller venues do not struggle with improved regulation.

The report also recommends that venues switch to “energy tariffs that directly support renewable energy projects, and that artists plan tours with emissions firmly in mind.

Massive Attack are implementing six major emissions reduction modules for their 2022 tour, to trial implementation and carry out modelling on interactive practicalities, and to then bring all project learning together in a major UK testbed live show to proliferate change.

The band are also working with green industrialist Dale Vince and Ecotricity to design bespoke partnerships with a wide variety of music arenas and venues, with the aim to create far greater renewable energy capacity for the UK grid, and help train event staff to run and generate sustainable operations.

Massive Attack’s Robert del Naja said: “We’re grateful to Tyndall Centre analysts for providing our industry with a comprehensive, independent, scientifically produced formula to facilitate industry compatibility with the Paris/1.5 degrees climate targets – but what matters now is implementation. The major promotors simply must do more – it can’t be left to artists to continually make these public appeals. But our sector is operating in a government void. Nine weeks out of COP26, where is the industrial plan, or any plan at all, for the scale of transformation that’s required for the UK economy and society?”

A founding member of the Bristol-based band, Robert del Naja, also known as 3D, also called on the UK Government to do more to support the music industry. He added: “Fossil fuel companies seem to have no problem at all getting huge subsidies from government, but where is the plan for investment in clean battery technology, clean infrastructure or decarbonized food supply for a live music sector that generates £4.6 billion for the economy every year & employs more than 200k dedicated people? It simply doesn’t exist.”

For a full copy of the the Roadmap to Super Low Carbon Live Music, commissioned by Massive Attack and produced by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, click here.

Massive Attack

Rosa Medea is Life & Soul Magazine’s Chief. She writes about lifestyle including sustainable and green living