Music Declares Emergency

Last summer, as Canada saw wildfires followed by massive flooding, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the United Nations Climate Working Group report “a code red for humanity”. A conservative estimate puts the impact of the music industry at being responsible for 20-60 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions equivalent per year. And although the music sector has a large carbon footprint, musicians can also play a major role in helping to shape people’s hearts and minds and have a tremendous influence over their audiences and fans. Music has an important role to play in inspiring the world to confront the climate emergency as well as taking steps to decarbonize the sector. From streaming, venues, staging and merch to touring, travel, festivals and live music, we will discuss what is happening across the music industry to address the climate crisis and explore how the music sector can play a key role in responding to the climate emergency.