Empowering the Earth: Live Nation Environmental Sustainability Charter
Live Nation Entertainment is the world’s leading live entertainment company comprised of global market leaders: Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, Festival Republic, Academy Music Group, C3 Presents, LN Media and Sponsorship, and Artist Nation Management.
Live Nation Entertainment has the power to change lives. We believe that empowering others through music is one of the ways we can make the biggest difference in the world. This applies to our approach to sustainability; ‘Empowering the Earth’ is our approach to reduce our environmental impacts.
We rely on the environment to create world class live events. We are stewards of the environment where our venues and live events are based, the setting plays an integral part in creating the unique atmosphere that forms lasting memories for fans.
We will demonstrate leadership on climate action by setting science-based targets which will ensure our greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reductions are aligned with the commitments made in the UNFCCC’s Paris Agreement. This will ensure we are contributing toward the level of decarbonisation required to keep the global temperature increase below 1.5 degrees Celsius, compared to pre-industrial temperatures, as set out in the 2018 Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
Live Nation Position on Climate Change
Climate change is real and happening right now. The levels of CO2e in the air are the highest on record. Extreme weather events have increased in their frequency and intensity and have impacted the lives of many. This and other environmental issues such as biodiversity loss, air pollution, sea level rise and ocean acidification are showing that human actions are inadvertently moving the earth into a less hospitable state. With catastrophic losses in biodiversity reported in the Living Planet Report, the IPCC setting out the timescale for urgent action to limit warming, increased public awareness and protests demanding government action, the need for governments, businesses, organisations and individuals to work together to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions is more evident than ever before.
As the world’s leader in live entertainment, we have a responsibility to preserve the live music experience for generations to come and a tremendous opportunity to use our platform to inspire global environmental action.
We will work to reduce the environmental impact of our venues and festivals to ensure we are being responsible global citizens, taking care of the communities where we operate, and doing our part to curb the most harmful impacts of global climate change.
We will leverage our industry’s creative ethos, motivate and inspire our fans, employees, artists, and industry to take small but powerful steps for the environment at our events and beyond.
And we will leverage sustainability as a way to continue to innovate and drive value for our business.
This Charter is:
• A unifying vision that will capitalize on and accelerate the work that has been done to date and align toward a common sustainability purpose, taking our efforts from incremental to game changing.
• An aspirational but actionable set of goals. We will align our efforts and goals to the most currently established global standards and frameworks like the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and Science Based Targets Initiative
• An inspirational and public engagement platform that brings together the best of live music, culture, brands, education, and science to address and inspire solutions to climate change among the industry, our employees and the millions of fans that come through our gates.
Approach
We have identified eight priority areas that make up our sustainability work: emissions and energy, resource use and waste (including plastic), water, food, public engagement, procurement, transport, and local impacts. Each area has been assessed in the context of their impact on, and contribution to, the relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals*.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In 2019 all Live Nation owned and operated venues and live events will measure their greenhouse gas emissions with the goal of setting science-based targets which will ensure our greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reductions are aligned with the recommendations laid out in the 2018 Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
This will enable us to set annual reduction targets to meet our overarching goal of a 50% reduction in scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
Energy
We see the rapid transition to a low carbon economy as urgent.
Our aim is for all of our owned and operated venues and offices and live events to be powered by 100% renewable energy. Our buildings and venues will operate to certified energy efficiency standards.
Over the next 10 years we will increase the share of energy from renewable sources and invest in energy efficiency measures and certification. We will select partners and suppliers who can help us achieve our goal and support innovation and test new technologies.
Resource Efficiency and Waste
Live Nation will prioritize waste reduction, followed by reuse and then recycling, energy recovery and disposal.
We aim for all of our offices, venues and events to be zero waste to landfill and achieve a 50% (or higher) material recovery rate by 2030, considering local and national prerequisites.
We will accurately report on our waste and develop waste management plans with our contractors. We will create closed loop waste management systems at our venues and events and support the development of a circular economy.
Plastic
We will phase out the sale of single use plastics at our owned and operated venues and events by 2021 at the latest. All items used thereafter must be either reusable, renewable, certified compostable or if unavoidable made from at least 30% recycled content.
This includes sampling containers, cutlery, plates, cups, bottles, serve-ware, sachets, stirrers, straws.
We will explore available plastic alternatives and align our partners towards the same goal.
We will implement a sourcing policy that prioritizes:
• Reuse over single use
• Renewable over finite resources
• Certified compostable products where commercial compost facilities exist
• Prioritize products with highest recycled content available at least 30%
Water
We will provide good access to quality potable water at our venues and live events, reduce water waste and identify high risk areas that require restrictions on water consumption. We will explore reusing grey water and support innovation in this area.
Food
We see industrial food production and wastage as an environmental issue. We will acknowledge the carbon impact of food and work with our suppliers to source food with the highest standards of animal welfare possible. Offering quality and healthy food to our customers is a priority.
We will minimize the amount of food that goes to waste and make best use of composting facilities.
Engagement
Our sustainability aims will be clearly and transparently communicated to our audience and we will use our position and reach to engage with our customers to raise awareness of environmental issues. We will connect and collaborate with local and national environmental causes and organizations. We will participate in sustainability conversations within the industry and beyond to share best practice and learn from others.
Partnerships and Procurement
We will work with our supply chain, partners and sponsors towards shared sustainability goals.
We will consider the full lifecycle of the products we procure and enable the development of new markets to support sustainable products.
Transport
It is important that all our venues and live events have good public transport links and we will work with suppliers and local authorities to encourage the use of sustainable transport such as bus, tram, train, coach travel and cycling. For unavoidable negative impacts we will recognise, measure and create positive impacts to balance it and promote this to our audience, artists, suppliers and contractors.
Local Impacts
Ecology - Every venue and site has its own unique features and designs are prepared to take into account any ecologically sensitive areas or artefacts of heritage or cultural significance.
We will work within any local conditions and carry out environmental or biodiversity impact assessments if required to protect local flora and fauna while holding our events.
Noise and Light - We will work to minimise the impact of noise and light pollution of our events.
Local Community - We support local charities and create local employment opportunities wherever possible. We will endeavour to measure the economic impact that our venues and live events have on the local areas.
Wellbeing - We will ensure the health and well-being of all staff and visitors.
Governance
Sustainability policy will be centrally managed and developed individually within each country, building capacity with each team to keep sustainability at the heart of our planning and operations.
Each participating country will develop an environmental management system and action plan setting out the steps that will be taken to achieve our goals.
In 2019 we will measure our baseline environmental footprint using a standard approach and we will use this to establish metrics and targets that we will work toward each year. We will transparently track, measure, and share our progress and seek to publish annual reports. We will participate in certification schemes where appropriate.
We will share experiences (positive and negative) about changes we make, sharing best practices and learn from each other.
We will constantly seek to keep developing and improving this position.
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* Eleven of the seventeen Sustainable Development Goals are directly relevant to live music events and are listed here:
3 – Good Health and Well-being, 4 – Quality Education, 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, 9 - Industry, 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, 13 – Climate Action, 14 – Life Below Water, 15 – Life on Land and 17 – Partnership for the Goals.