British rock band Coldplay have revealed data that shows they reduced CO2e emissions by just shy of their 50% target as their Music Of The Spheres Tour continues its second year.
The band said at the outset of their world tour in 2022 that they hoped to make it as environmentally beneficial as possible and reduce direct carbon emissions from show production, freight, band and crew travel by 50%.
Data collated, assessed and independently validated by Prof. John E. Fernandez of the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative (ESI) found that on a show-by-show comparison the tour has so far produced 47% less CO2e emissions than Coldplay’s last stadium tour in 2016-17.
Coldplay said in a statement issued on Instagram: “This is a good start – and something that our incredible crew should be very proud of – but clearly there’s still room for improvement.
“Thank you to all the brilliant people and creative minds who’ve helped us so far.”
The band said it hopes to see a further reduction in CO2e emissions during the tour’s second year with the entire show, including audio, lights and lasers, now run from an electric battery system that allows it to use 100% renewable energy as efficiently as possible.
They also thanked fans who have done their bit to help hit the tour’s sustainability targets by helping charge the show batteries on the power bikes and kinetic dance floors, travelled to shows by foot, bicycle or public transport, ride-shared, used the recycling bins, and brought refillable water bottles.
Coldplay said: “We have been using electric vehicles and alternative fuels wherever we can, as well as reducing waste and plastic usage to a minimum.”
The Music Of The Spheres Tour began its 2023 run in Portugal in May and will continue in Europe, North America and Asia before finishing in Australasia in November. By the time it closes, Coldplay will have played more than 120 dates since commencing the tour in March 2022.
In 2019, Coldplay committed to making all future tours as environmentally friendly as possible and set a series of goals to achieve this. It also said that 10% of all earnings will be put into funds for environmental and socially-conscious causes, including ClientEarth, The Ocean Cleanup and One Tree Planted.
Prof Fernandez gave his backing to the data and Coldplay’s efforts to reduce their environmental footprint.
He said: “Based on a detailed review of the work of Coldplay’s sustainability team in assessing and advising the band and management on the CO2e impact of touring, we fully endorse this effort as critically important, scientifically rigorous and of the highest quality.
“MIT ESI endorses this work as an important and substantive step toward a new era of eventually achieving carbon neutral music events by major artists. The band deserves significant praise in commissioning the work and acting as the vanguard for the global music industry as it begins to take seriously the reality of living and making music in the Anthropocene.”