Finnish Jazz Federation’s Carbon Footprint Report 2023: Total Emissions Decreased by 13%
According to the carbon footprint report prepared by emissions calculation expert Miikkael Niemi, the Finnish Jazz Federation’s carbon footprint for 2023 was 84,4 tons of CO2e, approximately 13 % less than in 2022. The reduction in emissions was mainly due to changes in the scale of the Federation’s event productions. However, emissions from travel and energy increased. In alignment with its climate roadmap, the Jazz Federation has invested a sum equivalent for the emissions from its self-produced tours, as well as all trips made by its tour bus and business travel (travels only), totaling 18 tons of CO2e (21% of the 2023 emissions), through reforestation projects by Puuni Oy in 2024.
Finnish Jazz Federation implements its EcoCompass environmental program’s promise to reduce the emissions of its productions and support its members’ environmental efforts. Since 2021, the Federation has commissioned an annual carbon footprint calculation by an external expert to serve as a knowledge base for its climate efforts. The goal of regular calculations is to enable the Federation to determine its emissions and use this data to develop operations that reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Jazz Federation’s carbon footprint for 2023 was 84,4 tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (CO2e), approximately 13 % lower than in 2022. The calculations were conducted according to the international GHG Protocol standard, which mandates reporting on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions while Scope 3 emissions are reported voluntarily. A significant portion (95,6 %) of the Federation’s emissions fell under Scope 3 (indirect emissions), which included relevant categories for the Federation’s activities: procurement and services, waste, business travel, commuting, and events.
Scope 1 emissions (direct emissions) were 2,176 kgCO2e, accounting for 2,6 % of total emissions. These originated entirely from the use of the Federation’s vehicle (a Ford Transit). Scope 2 emissions (purchased energy) made up 1,9 % of total emissions and included greenhouse gas emissions from electricity and district heating at one office location.
The most significant factor in the overall emission reduction was the conclusion of the On The Rails project, which accounted for a large share of emissions in 2022. The Jazz Federation invested the emissions from the On The Rails project in 2023 by contributing to reforestation projects through Puuni Oy.
The carbon footprint calculation used an operational control boundary, focusing on emissions that the Federation can influence. Thus, the emissions from organizing concert venues for tours or the Jazz-Espa stage operations are not included as these are not under the Federation’s management.
Largest Emissions and Reductions from Events
Event organization is a core activity for the Finnish Jazz Federation, often requiring logistics such as transportation and accommodations. In 2023, events accounted for 77 % of the Federation’s emissions, with a 10 % increase in event-related emissions compared to the previous reporting period.
The increase in emissions was due to the inclusion of the sustainable development project Elma.live under events in 2023, whereas it was previously categorized under procurement in 2022. Excluding Elma.live, event emissions decreased by 18 % because some projects were scaled down, the On The Rails project ended, and the pilot tours for the Carbon-Neutral Touring Model project were completed. New initiatives in 2023 included the international career development program Constellations and the Jazz Camp for Girls, which were reported as events for the first time.
Recurring events showed mixed results: Jazz-Espa and Nordic Jazz Comets saw slight increases in emissions, while the National Jazz Days, Jazz Finland Residency, and co-produced/self-produced tours experienced reductions. Improved data collection for events may have led to higher reported emissions despite similar or reduced emissions compared to previous years. For example, Jazz-Espa emissions increased due to the inclusion of the sound technician’s work in the 2023 calculations.
Increase in Travel and Energy Emissions
In 2023, the Federation’s travel emissions (Scope 3) totaled 6,898 kgCO2e, a 180 % increase from 2022 due to more frequent flights. Flights (four round trips) accounted for 86 % of travel emissions, or 8 % of Scope 3 emissions. Commuting contributed about 7 % of travel emissions, a 35 % decrease compared to 2022. The Federation invested a sum equivalent for its business travel emissions through Puuni Oy’s carbon sink projects.
Electricity consumption in the Federation’s office (Scope 2) increased by 25 %, with emissions rising by 15 %. The relative decrease in emissions is attributed to switching to a carbon-free electricity contract in July 2023. The emission factor for the previous contract’s energy was significantly higher, meaning emissions would have more than doubled without the switch to renewable energy. With continued use of renewable electricity, the Federation’s electricity emissions will be 0 kgCO2e going forward.
Development Proposals
The carbon footprint report prepared by Miikkael Niemi identified areas for improvement, such as harmonizing annual reporting through an event index that accounts for event emissions based on the number of events or participants. This would enable a consistent evaluation of annual event emissions irrespective of the number of events. Additionally, data collection for events could be expanded to include audience travel, other participation-related emissions, and waste generation, particularly for larger events.
In 2024, the Jazz Federation will align with its climate roadmap by investing a sum equivalent for 18 tons of CO2e (21 % of 2023 emissions) from self-produced tours, tour bus travel, and business travel through Puuni Oy’s reforestation projects.
Finnish Jazz Federation is taking action to reduce emissions from its touring activities and the Jazz-Espa event through measures outlined in the sustainable touring roadmap developed during the Carbon-Neutral Touring Model project (2022–2023). The Federation also supports its members’ environmental efforts by providing information, recommendations, and training on sustainability. One of the Federation’s largest coordinated projects is Elma.live, a free sustainability planning tool for the performing arts sector.
Photo: Krista Kuu