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Massive Attack & SJM Concerts To Showcase Sustainable Live Events In Liverpool
Liverpool, England, has been named the world’s first “Accelerator City” for climate action by the United Nation’s climate change program, which the city’s M&S Bank Arena will commemorate with a three-night live music series, Nov. 28-30.
Massive Attack, the artist-led initiative ACT 1.5, and SJM Concerts will contribute to those nights by showcasing “innovations in sustainability and the smart design of live music events,” according to a press release.
There’ll also be an industry event called Expedition 1, Nov. 29, as well as a public event Nov. 30 at the adjacent ACC Liverpool, which will “test and showcase eight cross-sectoral pilot projects for rapid decarbonisation across live music, TV and film productions scheduled in 2025.” The public will also be able to access climate action workshops, live audience podcasts, and performances.
The city of Liverpool plans to contribute to the “decarbonization in the cultural sector,” by pioneering an “integrated public transport and ticketing program (TAG Network); electrification with 100% renewable energy of all key live event and filming locations in the city centre; and a new Paris 1.5-degree compatible sustainability standard that major events will need to meet in order to be granted a land use agreement for an event to proceed.”
This work builds upon Massive Attack’s sustainability efforts undertaken over the past four years, culminating in their Aug. 25 ACT 1.5 festival in Bristol, England.
See: Massive Attack Announces 100% Renewable Energy Festival
The band worked in collaboration with the Tyndall Centre, AGF, and super low-carbon providers to produce what is anticipated to have been the lowest greenhouse gas emissions show of its size ever staged.
Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja said, “Our recent Bristol show demonstrated beyond question that major live music events can be Paris 1.5 compatible, and that audiences will embrace change enthusiastically. The vast scope of work in Liverpool and UN recognition means we can now concentrate more dynamic pilots and experiments to rapidly phase out fossil fuels.
“This idea and this insistence are not going back in any box. We’re delighted to see artists like Coldplay testing elements like localized ticket pre-sales and 100% renewable energy as recommended in the Tyndall Centre Paris 1.5 decarbonization road map and encourage other artists to do so freely. The talking stage is over, it’s time to act.”