Massive Attack festival 'breaks world record'

Massive Attack's first homecoming gig in five years has broken a world record for producing the lowest ever carbon emissions, a new report states.

Scientists from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research said in its report that the Bristol festival cut emissions by being 100% battery powered and selling 100% vegan food.

It is hoped the event will now be used as template by other organisers to transform how outdoor festivals are hosted.

Massive Attack's Robert Del Naja - AKA 3D - said he is "grateful to the team and the fans that produced the world-leading event".

The report was made by comparing emissions from Massive Attack's show - known as the Act 1.5 - with the emissions from a standard hypothetical outdoor live music event.

Act 1.5 produced 98% less power emissions than comparable shows, the report found.

Vegan food and a fleet of electric vehicles also helped reduce catering emissions by 89% and haulage emissions by 70%.

Mark Donne, ACT 1.5 lead producer, said the show was the "cleanest, greenest festival event ever staged".

"Clean technology is ready – it just needs to be facilitated; fans want clean shows, that's very clear. The challenge for promoters and government now is to meet that need," he added.

Professor Carly McLachlan, associate director at the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, said this "proof-of-concept show could change the landscape for outdoor festivals".

"It demonstrated that there are real opportunities for promoters, providers, local authorities and central government to create the conditions for the UK to lead the world in super-low carbon events," she added.

While significant emissions have been saved, the report highlighted that the 5% of the audience that flew to the show generated 64% of the event's overall greenhouse gases.

With more big artists favouring large world tours in a shorter list of locations - this represents a headache for the industry if it wants to contribute to meeting climate targets, the reports states.

"There's a huge question now for tour planning, but also for media and promotor marketing campaigns high on the glitz of epic summer tours that normalise leisure aviation," Del Naja added.

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