The world’s first “carbon free” live event will be at London’s O2 in 1975.
The incentive was announced earlier this week, when the venue’s organizers confirmed that in early 2024 they would host the first carbon neutral stadium events, with the 1975 live shows being the first concerts to held under the new Format.
In a series of pilot events in February, the organizers will use different methods to physically remove the carbon generated by the events and remove it from the atmosphere. “From this data, the cost of event-related carbon removal can be integrated into the existing business model.
If successful, the pilot events will help pave the way for a new practice model for venues, promoters and tours around the world, and help drive carbon emissions reduction in the live entertainment sector for the future.
“We are extremely proud to be hosting the world’s first decarbonised events at the O2,” said Sam Booth, Chief Sustainability Officer at AEG Europe.
“There is currently no perfect zero-carbon event on a large scale, but as long as the sector continues to innovate and improve to reduce emissions to the lowest possible level, carbon removal will remain an important piece of the puzzle. “
Mark Stevenson, co-founder and Chief Impact Officer of CUR8, agreed, adding: “The good thing about these shows is that we can demonstrate that it is now possible to integrate the cost of removing residual CO2 into the existing business model, in such a way that fans will not notice any difference in the concert experience.
“It’s a total win-win – for artists and their fans who care about the climate crisis.”
The 1975 concerts included in the pilot of the new ecological design will be part of the recently announced “Still At Their Very Very Best” UK and European tour for 2024.
The dates, announced late last month, are the band’s biggest European dates to date and will mark the end of the “Being Funny In A Foreign Language” era.
In addition to the UK tour dates, the members will also embark on a European tour, with stops in Lisbon, Madrid, Paris, Oslo, Copenhagen, Berlin, Milan and many more. The tour will end at the Palladium in Cologne (Germany) on March 22. Tickets here.
The new dates announced will follow the band’s 32-date North American tour, which kicks off in Sacramento, California, on September 26.
This is not the first time the band has used their fame to make a positive impact on the environment. In 2019, Matty Healy and his company asked their fans to plant trees in honor of the band and their commitment to fight against climate change.
“@the1975 fans stick together! Let’s plant trees to honor our favorite band and what they represent. Let’s plant a future!” the frontman then wrote.
In addition, just a few months earlier, Healy praised the spirit of climate activist Greta Thunberg, whom he called “the punkest person he’s ever met.” The band collaborated with Thunberg on “The 1975,” a spoken word essay about the effects of climate change that opens their album “Notes On A Conditional Form.” All profits from the song went to the environmental group Extinction Rebellion.
They’ve teamed up with climate change organization Music Declares Emergency for a new charity t-shirt. Released in 2021, the design, which was offered in black and white and on a white hoodie, was based on their rectangular logo, with the slogan “No Music On A Dead Planet.” next to the words: “The 1975 for MDE” .
To find out more about O2’s sustainable practices and the Good Vibes All Round initiative, visit this link.
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