BAND’S CURRENT TOUR ACHIEVES 59% REDUCTION IN CO2e EMISSIONS – BEATING THEIR ORIGINAL 50% TARGET – AS WORK IS HERALDED BY MIT PROFESSOR AS “SETTING A NEW STANDARD”
Coldplay have today given an update on the sustainability initiatives that form a central part of their Music Of The Spheres World Tour, which began in March 2022 and has so far sold more than 9 million tickets.
The band, whose tour resumes in Athens, Greece on June 8, revealed that their current tour has so far produced 59% less CO2e emissions than their previous stadium tour in 2016/17, exceeding their original target of a 50% reduction. They also revealed that 7 million trees have already been planted, as part of the band’s commitment to plant a tree for every concert goer attending the tour.
The band’s efforts have been assessed and validated by Professor John E. Fernandez of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Environmental Solutions Initiative, who said: “Coldplay’s impact on the environment from touring is again setting a new standard for the entire music industry.”
Coldplay’s full statement is 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
ll of the band’s data and environmental impact assessments from both the A Head Full Of Dreams Tour (2016/2017) and the first year of the Music Of The Spheres Tour were shared with the team and leadership at the MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative, who said:
“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
Some highlights of the band’s sustainability initiatives are listed below. Please see coldplay.com/emissions-update for more information.
- Overall 59% reduction in direct CO2e emissions compared to the previous tour (2016-17), on a show-by-show basis, across 2022 and 2023
- 7 million trees already planted that will be supported to maturity via One Tree Planted – one for each concert goer. Approximately 10,000 hectares of land restored across 24 countries and 48 planting projects
- 2 solar-powered Ocean Cleanup River Interceptors deployed
- 86% average return rate of the reusable, plant-based LED wristbands
- 18 shows powered entirely using the tourable battery system in 2023 made from recycled BMW i3 batteries
- 23 partnerships with green travel providers to help fans travel to shows via super-low carbon transport
- 17kWh average power per show generated via in-venue solar installations, kinetic dance floors and power bikes – enough to power the band’s C-stage performance each night
- 72% of all tour waste diverted from landfill and sent for reuse, recycling and composting
- Financial support given to environmental organisations including ClientEarth, The Ocean Cleanup, Climeworks, Project Seagrass, Sustainable Food Trust, Cleaner Seas Group, Food Forest Project, Knowledge Pele, Conservation Collective and others.
