The partnership with the University of Manchester is the latest effort against climate change from the Bristol-based band.
Massive Attack are partnering with climate scientists at the University of Manchester’s Tyndall Centre for Climate Change to assess the environmental impact of the music industry. The Bristol-based band have commissioned the climate group to study three key areas where CO2 emissions in the sector are generated: band travel and production, audience transport and venue. The partnership is the most recent environmentally-minded project from Massive Attack, who are ongoing supporters of the Extinction Rebellion movement.
Robert Del Naja, the band’s co-founder, has written a statement for The Guardian explaining the decision. He states: “The music industry has had a big carbon impact. As a band working with climate experts, we’re going to try to minimise ours.” He continues, “Concerns over our own carbon impact and those of our wider industry aren’t new to us, but the urgency is. Last year, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change called for “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedented changes in all aspects of society” and said carbon emissions were harmful, regardless of the fun had in their generation. In other words, what goes on tour doesn’t stay on tour.” In the statement, Del Naja goes on to explain the problematic nature of carbon offsetting that many artists engage with and the consideration of ending touring altogether.
Dr Chris Jones, Research Fellow at Tyndall Manchester said: “We will be working with Massive Attack to look at sources of carbon emissions from a band’s touring schedule. Every industry has varying degrees of carbon impact to address and we need partnerships like this one to look at reducing carbon emissions across the board.”
Read more about the partnership on the University of Manchester website.