Christopher BarrettLiverpool has become the world’s first ‘Accelerator City’ for climate action, under UN Climate Change’s Entertainment and Culture for Climate Action programme.
To mark the achievement, a string of events are to be staged in the city, including Act 1.5 Presents; a weekend of live music from 28-30 November at M&S Bank Arena featuring artists including Massive Attack, IDLES and Nile Rodgers.
ACT 1.5 is an artist-led research and action effort spearheaded by Massive Attack and climate scientists from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research.
Following Massive Attack’s ‘climate action accelerator’ Act 1.5 show at Bristol’s Clifton Downs last month, the Liverpool concerts will build on the methods trialled there with the aim of sharply reducing the level of carbon emissions and air pollution usually produced from events of a similar scale.
The Accelerator City programme is supported by Ecotricity and comprised of a partnership network of private, public sector, and UN organisations including BBC, BAFTA Albert, BFI, Earth Percent, Equity, BECTU, The European Space Agency, A Greener Future, Association of Independent Festivals, UN Climate Change, UNESCO, ZENOBE Energy, and numerous transport, food and local service providers.
The group stated that the Accelerator City accolade recognises Liverpool’s commitment to innovation and smart regulation to rapidly decarbonise the live music and TV/film production sectors.
To mark the move, Liverpool will also host industry event Expedition 1 on 29 November at ACC Liverpool, which will showcase eight cross-sector pilot projects for rapid decarbonisation across live music, TV and film productions scheduled in 2025. The public will then be invited to experience climate action workshops, live audience podcasts, and performances.
Massive Attack’s Robert Del Naja said the band’s recent Bristol show demonstrated beyond question that major live music events can be Paris 1.5 compatible, and that audiences will embrace change enthusiastically: “The vast scope of work in Liverpool and UN recognition means we can now concentrate more dynamic pilots and experiments to rapidly phase out fossil fuels. This idea and this insistence are not going back in any box. We’re delighted to see artists like Coldplay testing elements like localised ticket pre-sales and 100% renewable energy as recommended in the Tyndall Centre Paris 1.5 decarbonisation road map and encourage other artists to do so freely. The talking stage is over, it’s time to act.”
UK Climate Minister Kerry McCarthy MP said: “I am proud and delighted that Liverpool – as famous for its cultural exports as it is for its maritime history – will be the UN’s first Accelerator City for climate change action.
“I would especially like to congratulate the artists, scientists, providers and the city council who have made huge efforts and driven innovative solutions to tackle greenhouse gas emissions and are having their work recognised in this way. Dynamic projects like these are completely in line with our mission for the UK to become global leaders in this action once again, and with our efforts to boost clean, green, highly skilled jobs at home to drive economic growth and achieve clean power by 2030.”