Combat Climate Change – How the Music Industry Needs to Start a Cultural Transformation

John E. Fernandez (Director, MIT Environmental Solutions Initiative), Norhan Bayomi (DJ Nourey), Anna Johnson (Sustainability and Environment Officer, Involved Group), Rob van Wegen (Sustainability Supervisor, ESNS), Luke Howell (Founder & Director, Hope Solutions), Sally Freeman (Director, Love Live Music)

We need a cultural transformation to redesign the way we eat, live, travel, work and party. We need to shift from small, isolated actions to collaborative impact. But how do we start and make significant changes in everything we do? This program examines how those with the resources and knowledge to facilitate change can take the necessary collective responsibility.

Scientists all over the world have warned of the dangers of climate change, but we haven't taken enough action yet. Our attempts to limit the rise in global temperature to 1.5° – 2° (as agreed in the Paris Agreement) are falling short.

Gus Speth (a long-time environmental lawyer and climate advocate): “I used to think that top environmental problems were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and climate change. I thought that thirty years of good science could address these problems. I was wrong. The top environmental problems are selfishness, greed and apathy, and to deal with these we need a cultural and spiritual transformation. And we scientists don't know how to do that."

Enter: the Electronic Music industry. We have global reach and can unleash imagination and passion as very few other industries can. It can inspire to dream, envision and ask big questions – elements not to be overlooked if the goal is moving towards a better future. It has a unique position – and could, through positive examples and practical solutions – help guide millions of people towards a climate-friendly future.

Our session will start with a keynote address from John E. Fernandez (Director of MIT Environmental Solutions): what does a climate-friendly future look like? Why is climate action needed?

The challenges that arise from this will be weighed from three different angles: that of an artist, that of the festival manager and that of a record label. Where lie the responsibilities to ignite a cultural change? Sally Freeman (moderator) will facilitate the conversation with Norhan Bayomi (Electronic Music Producer and a Trance DJ) Anna Johnson (Sustainability and Environment Officer at Involved Group) and Rob van Wegen (Sustainability Supervisor at Eurosonic Noorderslag).

Last but not least, Luke Howell (Founder Hope Solutions) will share the state-of-the-art use of sustainable energy in Coldplay’s new tour, as a best-practice example of how artists can step up their game and support sustainable solutions for our industry and far beyond.

This program is part of ADE Green. For the full ADE Green program, please check here.