London music business tries to go green

Musicians have now joined theatres and film makers in working with the mayor to cut their contribution to climate change.

The collaboration between the mayor’s office and industry coalition Jane’s Bicycle has resulted in a Green Music Guide which provides advice on reducing the impact of touring, putting on gigs and festivals, sourcing merchandise, packaging CDs and running recording studios.

The greatest savings are expected to come from the use of on-site renewable energy, improving energy efficiency at venues and looking at the way audiences travel to get to music events.

London’s music industry currently has an estimated carbon footprint of 465,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, equivalent to the emissions of 90,000 households.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said: “I want London to become an international leader in low carbon living, so it’s fantastic that our world-class creative industries are rising to that challenge.

“I congratulate the music industry for taking practical steps to become less wasteful in their use of energy and to cut the carbon emissions that cause climate change.

“We’ve supported this determination by providing expert know-how on how the industry can achieve genuine savings in line with my target to slash carbon by 60% by 2025.’

Singer KT Tunstall, who is supporting the move, said: “I have a pretty environmentally unfriendly job. The CD production, the travelling, thousands of gig-goers getting to venues, it all takes its toll, so it feels like I should do my best to try and turn the tables.”

Copies of the guide will be available from the Julie’s Bicycle website from Friday, March 13.

David Gibbs