A CHARITY has backed the idea of introducing a new music festival in Scotland that would operate on 100% renewable energy.
It comes after the band Massive Attack announced they were making plans for a fully renewable one-day festival in Bristol.
Set to take place in August 2024, the festival site is looking to only use battery or solar energy sources, with priority given to local residents to discourage excessive travel.
Creative Carbon Scotland, which is aiming to embed more environmental sustainability within the arts and cultural sector in Scotland, applauded the initiative.
A spokesperson said the charity is “fully supportive” of concerts and festivals operating on 100% renewable energy in Scotland, adding that the organisation “wouldn’t limit it to Scotland’s music sector”.
They added: “We’d argue that anyone putting on events in Scotland (or anywhere) in 2024 and beyond should be aware of their carbon footprint and taking proactive steps to reduce it – by using renewable energy, travelling sustainably, and encouraging or even rewarding their audiences for embracing such actions.”
Researchers at the University of Glasgow together with Creative Carbon Scotland have also recently launched a new initiative that aims to unite Glasgow’s Unesco City of Music identity with the city’s ambition to become net zero by 2030.
The initiative, which also includes collaboration from many of the city’s music businesses and organisations, aims to identify what Glasgow’s music sector needs to thrive in the future, co-design projects to support the sector’s shared needs, and investigate the role music and culture can play in a broader just and green transition.
A website has been launched to mark the initiative, which hosts resources and guidance for stakeholders including musicians, venues, music ensembles, policymakers, and researchers, environmental organisations, and fans.
It also contains a directory of music businesses in the city and a comprehensive map identifying over 200 spaces for live music in Glasgow.
The spokesperson added: “The project has shown that improving energy usage is one of the main actions that music venues can take to reduce their environmental impact, along with addressing how people travel to and from gigs and using their influence to bring out broader change in their local area.”
