The Bristol concert marked a milestone in sustainability efforts, showcasing unprecedented reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and setting a new standard for the music industry.
Massive Attack held a landmark event on August 26, 2022, at Clifton Downs in Bristol, marking a significant milestone in the band’s long-standing commitment to climate activism. Titled “Act 1.5,” this show was designed to be an all-day, large-scale climate action accelerator event celebrating 25 years of the band’s advocacy for environmental issues. This concert represented their first UK performance in five years, drawing a crowd of over 32,000 attendees.
The event featured performances from a variety of artists, including Killer Mike, Lankum, Sam Morton, and DJ Milo from the Wild Bunch. Massive Attack aimed to ensure that their Bristol concert would become the lowest-carbon gig of its type, using it as a model for future concerts within the music industry.
To achieve this ambitious goal, the concert incorporated numerous sustainability initiatives. These included entirely plant-based catering, a concert powered by battery energy, and up to five times more show trains scheduled to run after the national rail network had closed. Electric shuttle buses were also provided to facilitate fans’ travel home.
Recent findings shared by scientists from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research indicate that the concert resulted in unprecedented reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The report revealed a staggering 98% decrease in emissions from power, an 89% reduction in emissions stemming from food and catering, and a 70% decline in emissions related to equipment haulage. Moreover, artist travel emissions decreased by 73%, while audience travel emissions fell by 32%.
It is important to note that Massive Attack’s emissions strategy does not include “offset” measures; thus, the planting of Sessile Oak and English Oak trees in North Somerset as part of the event’s rail incentive scheme was not factored into the reported emissions. The report emphasized that while artists can implement simple changes to minimize emissions at live events, active participation from concert-goers is essential for achieving meaningful long-term reductions. Alarmingly, it was noted that 5% of the audience who opted to fly contributed to 64% of the greenhouse gas emissions from audience travel.
Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja (3D) expressed gratitude in light of the findings, saying: “Massive Attack are hugely grateful to both the team and the fans that produced a world-leading event, and to the scientists and analysts who – via the huge progressive leaps made in producing the ACT 1.5 show – identified a serious emerging issue for all live music events in the context of climate emergency.” He raised concerns about the future of concert tourism and the challenges it presents for emissions reduction, stating, “If fans are encouraged to tour the world to see their favourite artists this sector can simply forget about hitting any emissions reductions targets.”
Professor Carly McLachlan, Associate Director of the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, remarked on the groundbreaking nature of the event. She noted, “This proof-of-concept show could change the landscape for outdoor festivals,” pointing out the potential for stakeholders to create conditions that allow the UK to lead in super-low carbon events. McLachlan praised the collective commitment to sustainability observed among the audience and crew, highlighting that the dedication from the production team was pivotal to the event’s success.
Massive Attack has expressed intentions to replicate the successes of the Bristol concert in other cities. Del Naja previously elaborated on their ambitions for future shows, stating: “We want it to move into these practical areas.” This evolving strategy is framed against their decision to decline an offer to perform at Coachella 2025, as Del Naja criticized the festival’s environmental impact, noting, “It’s in Palm Springs. It’s a golf resort built on a desert, run on a sprinkler system, using public water supplies.”
The full report on the Bristol show and its findings is available for public review, showcasing the tangible outcomes of the band’s commitment to reducing the environmental footprint of live music events.
Source: Noah Wire Services
