The professional practice of music relies on fossil fuels at every step*. As musicians, our activities generate CO2 emissions that contribute, even at a very modest level, to increase the global greenhouse effect.
As scientists explain since decades, more greenhouse effect equals more global warming: a climate chaos that may render certain regions of the world unhinabitable and increase the extinction of living species, according to the IPCC reports** (https://www.ipcc.ch/)
*Streaming, downloading, distribution of records, production of LPs, CDs, videos, cassettes, DVDs, blurays, studio recording, mixing, mastering, use of AI, recording musical ideas or rehearsals, electronic or online metronomes or tuners, email communication, social network promotion, websites (such as this very one) but of course travels for concerts, rehearsals, promotion, residencies, electronic musical devices, amplifiers, PA systems and ligthshows.
** Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the United Nation body for assessing the science related to climate. It was created in 1988 to provide policymakers of all countries with regular assessments on climate evolution, its implications and potential future risks.
My personal point of view
Collective action
Like a lot of scientists or activists, I believe that ecology is a societal question that require a collective and political response at very large scale (local, national and international).
In 2021, after several months of dialogue, musician Manu Louis and I have created Zero Carbon Records: a record label without records. Our statement is that the music industry as we know it will probably stop during this century. For two reasons: a decreasing access to non-renewable resources (hydrocarbons, metals) in a possibly near future, and the necessity to reduce its ecological impact.
Therefore, Zero Carbon Records is an experiment on how to make music professsionally without ecological damages. The concept is to start from zero emissions and to add low-carbon energy only when it appears impossible to do without ("carbon fiascos"): no recordings, music performed directly in front of audiences, performances without electricity (no PA system, no lightshow) or with self-produced power, travels of the artists on bicycle or on foot, audiences invited to come to the show without car.
Personal action
I am a white person, cisgender man, living a rich, Western, politically stable country*. From an ecological point of view, I may be an example of what shouldn’t be done: I’ve travelled regularly by plane during almost twenty years to perform live (in Europe, North America, Asia, South and Central America) and to collaborate with other artists. But since 2019, I’m trying to reduce seriously my environmental impact with a list of practical actions:
-
Low carbon travels: by train - sometimes even by bicycle (with a trailer to carry instruments and clothes)
-
Vegetarian catering
-
Minimal use of social networks and videos
-
No use of plastic bottles or dishware (travelling with my own water bottle)
-
Live performances without electronic devices or amplifiers - sometimes even totally acoustic without any lightshow and PA system
-
Long-term use of personal computer and telephone
-
As less new clothes as possible
Personal limits:
Daily email communication, mandatory announcements on the internet for new record releases and concerts, production of recorded music on physical medias and online, financial dependance on the streaming business.
* In the field of psychology, my profile is probably tagged as WEIRD: Western Educated Industrialized Rich and Democratic
