The biggest environmental issue facing the planet is global warming, caused primarily by burning coal, oil and gas for energy, but also by logging and agriculture. Leading to potentially catastrophic increases in drought, fire, flood, sea level rise and storms, it is no exaggeration that climate change threatens all of our lives in one way or another and absolutely must be addressed urgently. Every industry has its role to play and music is no exception.

Our cultural influence as musical institutions is our most powerful force. We need to green our own venue or event, of course. But our politicians hold the economic levers, and can affect large scale change more rapidly than any of us can individually. 

CLIMATE CHANGE DECLARATION

The first and most important step you can take right now is to sign our Climate Change Declaration and encourage all artists performing at your event/venue to also sign on. 

FIRST NATIONS FIRST

Another crucial step is to put our First Nations people first. That means going beyond just Acknowledgement of Country, and striving for deeper inclusion, both within your organisational structure and in curation, setting minimum standards for First Nations content. When you step forward to care for the environment, you’re following the footprints of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have cared for Country for tens of thousands of years. 

MUSIC AS ACTIVISM

Music has always been an art that has attracted, supported and nurtured activism, from civil rights and indigenous self-determination to feminism and nuclear disarmament, musicians have been at the forefront. A powerful contribution to protecting the environment can be as simple as supporting events and bands to raise awareness about issues and raise funds for campaigns. Alternatively, ask a local environmental activist group, like Seed Indigenous Youth Climate Network, Stop Adani, Friends of the Earth, or Lock the Gate, to set up a stall.