Music carbon trading to save the earth: Now, climate rock

Herald Sun
Wednesday 17/1/2007 Page: 21

Rock festivals, in the minds of many people, are more to do with noise pollution than reducing pollution. But promoters are now using science to calculate how much energy they are using and their level of greenhouse gas emissions.

Rock bands such as Cold Play and Pearl Jam say they are making their tours carbon neutral by offsetting jet travel and concert emissions. Melbourne group Cat Empire released a carbon neutral CD, Two Shoes.

The organisers of the Big Day Out, which opens in Auckland this week before coming to Australia, has pledged to be carbon neutral this year. Greenhouse gas emissions will be offset by planting trees. Last year, organisers asked an accredited greenhouse gas abatement certificate provider, CO2 Australia Ltd, to audit energy use at Big Day Out events.

Using this data, organisers say they are now able to accurately calculate the carbon emissions generated by things such as festival waste, power usage and transportation of stage and sound equipment.

Tree planting to offset the carbon emissions and energy use will create jobs and has sound conservation benefits, organisers say. It reduces salinity, improves farmland and converts gases to oxygen.

Growing international awareness of climate change has won carbon offset schemes some powerful supporters. Environmental authorities believe that climate change and the growth of C02 emissions are seen across the generational divide as one of the world's most important problems.

Virgin airlines boss Richard Branson has pledged about $6 billion to developing bio-fuel for his airline fleet and promises that his limousine company will become carbon neutral. The Lonely Planet and Intrepid Travel companies are to offset carbon emnissions for staff travel and are encouraging people to fly less and stay longer. Skybus, the company that takes passengers to and from Melbourne Airport, was the first Australian public transport operator to become carbon neutral. The company planted 5488 native trees to offset carbon emissions from its bus fleet.

The Australian Football League teamed up with the Australian Conservation Foundation and Origin Energy to neutralise an estimated 120,000 tonnes of greenhouse emissions. This was calculated on emissions during all AFL games as well as AFL energy use over the next three years. AFL chief Andrew Demnetriou says that by 2009, the AFL will be carbon neutral by offsetting its greenhouse emissions through investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency industries such as solar and wind power. He said the offsets would be equal to taking 25,000 cars off the road or planting 500,000 trees. The AFL hopes to reduce its carbon footprint to zero, playing its part in helping the environment, the AFL chief said. It would be the first major sports league in Australia to do so.

But the Federal Government continues to drag its feet on climate change; the drive to cut emissions and save energy is coming from the private sector. Some experts believe carbon-offset schemes are another way to keep polluting, by appearing to balance the damage being caused.

One expert commented wrily that offset schemes were like papal indulgences once offered by the Catholic Church: it was OK to keep sinning, as long as you paid compensation. Carbon offsets should not be a feel-good replacement for changing environmentally irresponsible practices and lifestyles. Some healthy scepticism needs to be directed at environmentally outspoken rock groups, such as U2, which circle the globe in fuel-guzzling private jets while extolling environmental consciousness.

Carbon offsets need to be more than just good PR. When Cold Play put out its breakthrough album, A Cold Rush of Blood to the Head, the band said it would offset energy use and carbon emissions by planting 10,000 mango trees in the dry Indian state of Karnataka

However, a media investigation revealed only a few hundred trees were still alive. The rest died because of lack of water and care. Nonetheless, the efforts of the Big Day Out and the AFL are to be applauded.

CARBON offsetting should not be seen as the solution to the world's environmental problems, but coupled with a commitment to reduce consumption and serious management and auditing of such projects, it is more than a step in the right direction.

The organisers of the Big Day Out are setting a positive example to the tens of thousands who will attend the annual youth fest. To a new generation, the old AC/DC chorus, rock 'n' roll ain't noise pollution, will take on a new meaning.