Research from the globally renowned Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research has identified the greenhouse gas emissions impact of major UK music festivals, and the lack of action on the part of both festival promoters and licensing local authorities to tackle the growing problem.

Despite 75% of all local authorities declaring a “Climate Emergency” (including those issuing licenses to all major UK outdoor music festivals), recent initiatives from the live music sector still fail to make meaningful commitments or issue clear targets on “Scope 3 Emissions” – in this case audience travel – where between 65-80% of greenhouse gas emissions for these events are generated.

The research was commissioned by the ACT 1.5 project – an independent, production led unit (supported by the Arts Council England) that resulted from the 2021 Massive Attack X Tyndall Centre decarbonisation of live music roadmap.  

A key element of the Act1.5 project was to develop a “gold standard” set of Model Licensing Conditions to be used by City and Local Authorities when approving festival licenses or renewals, with an incremental, year-on-year minimum standard of GHG reductions to facilitate compatibility with multi-sector IPCC targets to reduce all emissions by 50% by 2030 - including Scope 3 emissions.

• 2023 Eurovision host Liverpool City Council became the first authority to commit to the Gold Standard conditions as City policy.

The Act 1.5 Model Licencing conditions can be accessed free on our membership area.