Finnish live music industry released their climate roadmap

Finnish music stakeholders have developed and published a shared climate roadmap for the live music sector. It is released together with the inaugural study on the climate impact of live music in Finland. Climate change requires our society to have the ability and readiness to change its modes of operation, and the live music sector aims to lead the way towards carbon neutrality by 2035.

Finland’s Live Music Climate Roadmap and the study on the sector’s climate impact were published on 20 June 2023. The two documents were produced in 2022–2023 as part of a broader project titled Carbon Footprint of Live Music.

Live Music Climate Roadmap: Cool is the New Hot

The climate roadmap’s mission statement is “Coolest music in the world”. Live music activities leave both handprints and footprints. While music is not the biggest polluter, it has potential to be a significant influencer; many key players in the music sector have high recognition and a strong following, and their messaging can play a part in speeding up the green transition.

The roadmap defines shared climate goals for the industry, as well as different ways to reduce negative climate impacts while increasing positive effects. In addition, the different roles within the live music sector’s climate action are outlined, identifying areas where each member can have an impact, and providing recommended actions for each group. The entire industry has been invited to commit to the shared climate goals and stakeholders can express their commitment by signing the pledge online at the roadmap’s website.

You can download the full climate roadmap in English here.

The roadmap’s website www.viileamusiikki.fi has been published in Finnish, and an English language version will follow later this summer.

Study: Live music’s climate impact in Finland

The climate roadmap was preceded by a 2022 study on the Finnish live music sector’s climate impact. The entire live music sector was invited to participate in the calculations: festivals, event venues and organisers, orchestras, ensembles, and musicians. The study utilised carbon footprint calculations provided by 32 participants, mostly festivals. In addition to the data received from these calculations, the study incorporated existing data from previous carbon footprint calculations, and statistical information.

The study on live music sector’s climate impact has been published in Finnish (you can download the full study here). The English translation will be published in August.

Contributors and partners

The Carbon Footprint of Live Music project was managed by the Finnish Jazz Federation, as part of a broader project titled Finnish Jazz Federation’s Carbon Neutral Touring Model (read more at www.jazzliitto.fi). Project partners included other members of the network KEMUT (Sustainable Music Industry Toolkit), Finland Festivals, LiveFIN, Music Finland, the Finnish Musicians’ Union, and the Association of Finnish Symphony Orchestras. The roadmap and the study were designed and devised by the responsibility company Positive Impact Finland.  The project has received funding from the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Finnish Music Foundation (MES), and its partners.

More information:

Project Manager Anu Ahola (Carbon Footprint of Live Music), anu.ahola@jazzfinland.fi / +358 50 569 0505

CEO Elina Levula (Positive Impact Finland), elina.levula@positiveimpact.fi / +358 44 024 0390

Executive Director Maria Silvennoinen (Finnish Jazz Federation), maria.silvennoinen@jazzfinland.fi / +358 50 536 7491