25 October 2021

Music of the Spheres is out, and this means a world tour for the band. Here’s all you need to know about the new climate-positive world tour that Coldplay is planning. To reduce their carbon footprint during concerts, the band is all set to make changes in their tour itinerary to make it more climate inclusive. This is finally happening after two years when Coldplay last took their environmental pledge in 2019, where they mentioned that all their future tours will be as climate-positive as possible or, in their words, “As beneficial as possible to the planet.”

Owing to this, the band has made some changes in their regular concert style. They want to bring down more carbon or reduce the carbon footprint that it produces. The British rock band, along with their concert dates of the album “Music Of The Spheres,” have also released some details about their commitment to their environmental pledge.

A clean energy tour

The band has committed to having every show in their next tour powered by 100% clean energy. Every stadium will have solar panels installed. The stage itself will be built from lightweight, reusable materials like bamboo and recycled steel.

The LED wristbands that the fans will be wearing will be made of 100% compostable plant-based materials. The show will upgrade to ultra-efficient equipment such as low-energy LED screens, laser, lighting systems, and a PA system with up to 50% less power consumption than the previous tour, which will dramatically reduce environmental noise outside the venues.

Small things can have big effects. And so, the confetti used in the show will be 100% biodegradable. 

Power, Water and EVERYTHING else SUSTAINABLE

The kinetic floors will enable fans to generate power. This will be stored and will be used to power the first-ever mobile rechargeable show battery created in partnership with BMW.

Even fans are encouraged to be sustainable during the tour. Those who will travel in low-emission routes will be rewarded and also those who chose bikes or other common transportation than jets and planes. Fans can bring their own cups and bottles to refill water. There will be no charge on drinking water, which comes to ditch single-use plastic generated in shows. The band is also incorporating tech and nature-based solutions to go net-zero energy tours.

For this, one tree will be planted for every show pass sold, and 10% of the proceeds will go to fund environmental causes like The Ocean Cleanup, Climeworks, Sustainable Food Trust, and ClientEarth.

A double-check to ensure the band is climate positive

To ensure that the entire plan brings out positive climate results, the band plans to track their activities and record their footprint. This will be done in collaboration with researchers and climate experts at Imperial College London’s Grantham Institute of Climate Change and the Environment. Coldplay’s sustainable decisions will be measured and recorded to show how they will affect the planet, “both positively and negatively.”

Speaking about the whole planning process, Coldplay shares, “We’ve been planning this tour for years, and we’re super excited to play songs from across our whole time together.” “At the same time, we’re very conscious that the planet is facing a climate crisis. So we’ve spent the last two years consulting with environmental experts to make this tour as sustainable as possible, and, just as importantly, to harness the tour’s potential to push things forward.”

The rock band went on to say that “We won’t get everything right, but they are fully dedicated to doing everything we can and that it’s a work in progress.”

 A musical climate action round-up

10 things that are going to happen in the Coldplay tour which will make it the best!

• The band will capture climate impact data and calculate their environmental footprint to measure and track the results of their sustainable choices in their tour.
• They will avoid fossil fuels and use clean energy wherever possible, which also includes sustainable biomaterials.?There will be solar panels and HVO that are recycled from waste cooking oil as fuels for transportation and other needs.
• Kinetic floors convert fans’ movements to the energy that will be stored and used for power.
• The band will fly commercially whenever possible and play a surcharge for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
• Waste generated from the show will be recycled, and there will be a drastic reduction of single-use plastic. 
• The food choices will be plant-based, locally produced and lab-grown foods. Any surplus food will be donated to local food banks, and organic waste will be composted.
• All merchandise will be packed 100% plastic-free and will be sourced from vendors who practice ethical business. The packaging will be 100% paper, card, or compostable bags.
• One tree will be planted for every ticket sold, and a portion of the proceeds will go to fund and support biodiversity projects in Africa, Australia, and South-East Asia.
• The band’s proceeds will also go to support other causes that work and support sea conservation, natural flood defenses, ocean clean-ups, sustainable food trusts, and soil conservation.

With growing awareness about climate change and planet health, more and more artists are coming together to utilize their opportunity to educate people and encourage them to take climate-positive actions and switch to better choices that will have a positive impact on the environment and will lead to a sustainable future.