Tuning into Sustainability: How to Be an Environmentally Conscious Music Fan
By Christina Jemiri, REVERB ’24 Summer Intern
Christiana Jemiri is a recent graduate of American University, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Environmental Studies, a Minor in Sustainability, and a Certificate in Science and Policy. Christiana believes in the importance of making sustainability affordable, accessible, and equitable for all through changing individual actions. With REVERB’s focus on making the live music industry more sustainable, she created this article to focus on the actions that music fans can take to protect people and the planet.
Author: Christiana Jemiri
Music fans have the power to make an environmental difference just by being mindful while enjoying the music they love.
When you buy every piece of merch an artist drops, take an international flight to see an artist live, purchase burgers, fries, soda, and a box of candy, buy that flashy top you probably will only wear once: all of this contributes to climate change. Being an environmentally-conscious fan doesn’t take much out of you, and quite frankly, doesn’t hurt your pockets either in the long run.
Our planet is getting warmer, and I mean really warm. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change(IPCC), “the global average temperature is expected to exceed or reach 1.5 degrees Celsius (3 degrees Fahrenheit) within the next decade”, causing detrimental effects to our environment. According to the United Nations, climate change is the long-term change of temperatures or weather patterns. So what does that look like? Hotter summers, colder winters, frequent hurricanes, increased sea levels, and other disastrous climate events that are bad for people, the planet, and ecosystems.
The main culprit of climate change is greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon Dioxide, Methane, and Nitrogen Oxide are the three largest contributors to our warming climate. These greenhouse gases have increased since the Industrial Revolution, during which human activities accelerated the overuse of fossil fuels to make life more convenient. Currently, 30 billion tons of greenhouse gases are released into the atmosphere yearly, impacting our health, environment, and economy.
The biggest contributors to the climate crisis are corporations. Companies across the globe feed on their customers’ overconsumption, jeopardizing the health and safety of people and the planet. There must be a systematic and societal change in how we consume everything—including music—and it all starts with you!
So whether you are going to a concert or a music festival, these tips and tricks are worth trying out:
If your city or town has public transportation, try taking it. You can beat the traffic, avoid paying for parking, and it’s cheap and environmentally friendly!
If public transportation is not viable, opt to carpool with family and friends or select an electric vehicle option on ride-share apps like Uber and Lyft.
REVERB prides itself on the #RockNRefill program, a 10-year partnership with Nalgene that has helped eliminate four million single-use plastic bottles and raised over $5 million dollars for nonprofit organizations, all made possible by music fans!
Since 2019, the world has produced 460 million metric tonsof plastic, more than double the amount produced in 2000. An individual can divert approximately 156 single-use water bottles a year using a reusable water bottle.
Whether you snag a Nalgene bottle through REVERB or have your aluminum reusable water bottle, you are helping to limit the use of single-use plastic bottles at music venues or festivals. Make sure to check with your local music venue or music festival if empty reusable water bottles are allowed. If not, reach out to the music venue or music festival leadership to enact a policy to allow reusable water bottles.
We often buy new outfits for special occasions: birthdays, holidays, vacations, and concerts. However, the fashion industry is the second-largest water consumer and responsible for approximately10% of global carbon emissions, and you don’t need a new outfit! You have more than enough clothes in your closet. So pick out those really cute jeans you love and that top you only wore once, and wear it to that upcoming concert. You don’t need a brand new outfit but try supporting your local small thrift shop if you want a new-to-you look. Can’t find what you are looking for at the thrift? Try to find sustainably-conscious clothing brands for your next pickup. Use Good On Youto discover thousands of sustainably ethically sourced brands today.
So instead of burgers and hot dogs, get plant-based options when looking for something to eat at a concert or festival.
Check out our partners Support + Feed for more info, tips on plant-based eating, and tasty recipes to refuel after the show.
Consider taking the Support + Feed pledge to eat 1 plant-based meal for 30 days!
Go Digital!
When buying tickets to your next show, opt for digital tickets rather than physical tickets or printing them out.
Engage in Climate Action
Vote! Look for candidates making climate change a forefront issue in their campaigns. Hold your mayors, representatives, and congressmen accountable for implementing effective climate policy! Imagine every fan at a concert or festival coming together to demand change from their government to protect our planet.
Need a place to start? Check The League of Conservation Voters, which has a tool to identify your congress members and their stance on climate action.
Never forget that as a fan, you have the power to make a difference—even if it feels small. Your actions contribute to the larger picture of reducing carbon emissions.
Encourage family and friends to join you in becoming an environmentally conscious music fan, one concert or festival at a time.
