Coldplay Announce Current Tour Has Reduced Carbon Emissions By 59% Compared To Last Stadium Trek

With all the alarming updates on the devastating effects of climate change, we could all use some good news. Thankfully, Coldplay updated fans today on its sustainability initiatives to share that direct CO2e emissions from the first two years of the band’s ongoing “Music Of The Spheres World Tour” are 59% less than its previous stadium tour – exceeding its 2021 pledge to reduce carbon emissions by 50%.

Today’s announcement notes that Coldplay’s sustainability efforts were assessed and validated by Professor John E. Fernandez of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Environmental Solutions Initiative. He praised the band in a statement, saying, “Coldplay’s impact on the environment from touring is again setting a new standard for the entire music industry.”

Fernandez had previously analyzed the band’s greenhouse gas emissions a year ago, finding Coldplay had just come short of its goal with a 47% reduction compared to its 2016-2017 “A Head Full of Dreams Tour.”

Today’s positive news comes ahead of Coldplay’s return to Europe, which starts with a June 8 show at Olympic Stadium in Athens, Greece. Dates are booked through November including a few gigs in Australia and New Zealand.

Not only is Coldplay leading the charge when it comes to sustainability, the band’s “Music Of The Spheres World Tour” is also doing big business. Chris Martin & Co. topped Pollstar’s 2024 Q1 chart with $100.5 million grossed at 13 performances. As previously reported, Coldplay could potentially be the first band to cross the $1 billion threshold in global concert grosses on a single tour — with Taylor Swift the first singular artist — and have one of the highest ticket sales of all time. 

Check out Coldplay’s full statement about its sustainability efforts below:

“When we first announced the Music Of The Spheres Tour in 2021, we pledged to reduce our direct carbon emissions (from show production, freight, band and crew travel) by at least 50%.

We’re happy to report that direct CO2e emissions from the first two years of this tour are 59% less than our previous stadium tour (2016-17), on a show-by-show comparison. These figures have been verified by the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative.

We’d like to say a huge thank you to our incredible touring family and to all the brilliant people who’ve made this possible.

Most of all, we’d like to thank everyone who’s come to a show and helped charge the show batteries on the power bikes and kinetic dance floors; everyone who’s arrived by foot, bike, ride share or public transport; everyone who’s come with refillable water bottles or returned their LED wristband for recycling; and everyone who’s bought a ticket, which means you’ve already planted one of 7 million trees so far.

As a band, and as an industry, we’re a long way from where we need to be on this. But we’re grateful for everyone’s help so far, and we salute everyone who’s making efforts to push things in the right direction.

With love

Coldplay”

And here is the full statement from Fernandez, who spoke to Pollstar earlier this year for our Earth Day issue.

“For some time now, Coldplay has been leading by example in taking seriously and acting on the various interrelated environmental and social challenges facing humanity; climate change, biodiversity loss, air and water pollution, environmental injustice and more.

With each subsequent year of their tour they demonstrate an evolving vision and expanded commitment to move the entire music industry toward true and humane sustainability and planetary resilience. From collecting unprecedented amounts of data to taking specific actions today based on rigorous analysis, Coldplay is modelling a trajectory toward a low carbon, biodiverse and equitable future.

I, Prof. John E. Fernández of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, have reviewed their latest efforts and endorse and congratulate Coldplay in their dedication to positive and meaningful actions and Hope Solutions in their comprehensive and meticulous analysis and recommendations.

This latest analysis of Coldplay’s impact on the environment from touring is again setting a new standard for the entire music industry. The data and the methods of analysis support the conclusion that substantial progress has been made to reduce emissions in touring.”

– Prof. John E. Fernandez, MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative


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