The UK music industry has declared a climate and ecological emergency.
The declaration has been administered by the newly formed Music Declares Emergency (MDE) group, an independent organisation created by music business professionals and artists.
Signatories include Universal Music, Sony Music, Warner Music, the Association Of Independent Music (AIM), Beggars Group, Radiohead, Festival Republic, Warner Chappell Music, SJM Concerts, Coda Agency, Abbey Road Studios, Crosstown Concerts, The BRIT School, Idles, Nadine Shah and the Music Venue Trust. Click here for a current list of all signatories.
It has never been more important to understand the gravity of the climate crisis and to do more
Alison Tickell
Julie's Bicycle
Alison Tickell, MD of Julie’s Bicycle, a member of the MDE working group, said: “It has never been more important to understand the gravity of the climate crisis and to do more.
"Music Declares Emergency was created to enable the UK music industry to declare a Climate and Ecological Emergency, to accelerate collaboration and ambition in order to meet critical targets and to call on government to use their policy and investment tools to help us to reach those goals.’‘
The declaration states:
- We call on governments and media institutions to tell the truth about the climate and ecological emergency.
- We call on governments to act now to reverse biodiversity loss and reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by no later than 2030.
- We recognise that the emergency has arisen from global injustices and will work towards systemic change to protect life on Earth.
- We acknowledge the environmental impact of music industry practices and commit to taking urgent action.
We will:
- Jointly support one another, sharing expertise as a collective industry and community.
- Speak up and out about the climate and ecological emergency.
- Work towards making our businesses ecologically sustainable and regenerative.
Paul Pacifico, CEO of AIM, said: "There is no doubt that we are facing a global climate emergency, the effects of which are becoming ever clearer in our daily lives. It is crucial that we do everything we can to change our own behaviours and the behaviours of the world’s biggest corporations, and that we influence governments in order to secure a positive future for our planet.”
Fay Milton, drummer with Savages and member of the MDE working group, said: “As I sat at a music festival in the desert, watching Extinction Rebellion’s action unfold so beautifully in London, I realised that something had to change. It seemed like the music world had lost touch with reality, partying like there’s no tomorrow, when ‘no tomorrow’ has become the forecast.
"On realising I wasn’t alone with these thoughts, Music Declares Emergency was born. The momentum of support has been huge and making a declaration is just the first step to creating real change. We face a climate and ecological emergency and the only proportionate response is to act boldly and act now.”
Former EMI Music chief Tony Wadsworth, chair of Julie's Bicycle, said: “The consequences of inaction on climate change are increasingly evident and alarming. The UK music industry can do two things: reduce our environmental impacts and amplify our voices. Music Declares Emergency brings the entire community together to do just this.”
Mike Smith, MD of Warner Chappell, added: “It’s vital that we back this campaign. The threat from climate change is real and we all need to play our part in combatting it. Music may not have the impact of some other industries, but we can still do more to reduce our own carbon footprint and use our platform to spread the message that action needs to be taken.”
