OXFORD CLIMATE SOCIETY
  • About
    • What We Do
    • Who We Are
    • Our History
    • Advisory Board
    • Our Sponsors
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Videos of Past Events
  • Education
    • The Oxford School of Climate Change
    • Capstone Projects
    • Climate Change and Policy Lecture series
    • COP information
    • Climate Library
  • Action
    • Sustainability Action Guide
    • Decarbonise Oxford
    • College Sustainability Workshops
    • Legacy Campaigns >
      • Sustainability in the Curriculum
      • Oxford Climate Action Plan
  • Media and Arts
    • RISE zine
    • Anthroposphere: The Oxford Climate Review
    • Interdiscplinary Fine Art
  • Blog
    • Articles >
      • International Climate Policy
      • Global Perspectives
      • What you need to know about...
      • Past Blogs
    • Event summaries
  • Get Involved
    • Join Our Teams
    • RISE Submissions
    • Subscribe to our Newsletter
  • Alumni Network
  • Contact
  • Donate

Past Blogs

A variety of blog posts

Festivals: What We Don't See

30/9/2017

1 Comment

 
Picture

Author

Lucy Fellingham

Glittered faces, fields crammed with tents and headline acts are what make summers memorable for so many people – but the environmental impact of festivals is often forgotten. A 2015 report calculated that 23500 tonnes of waste was produced by UK festivals every year, 68% of which ended up either in landfill or an incinerator. Both of these disposal methods have their own consequences for the environment: while rubbish in landfill leaks pollutants into the earth and denies the “embodied energy” of the waste a chance to be used sustainably; incineration releases greenhouses gases, as well as nitrogen dioxide, contributing to acid rain and having harmful effects for our lungs.

The festivals themselves create nearly 100 kilotons of carbon dioxide emissions every year. Fossil fuels are being burned to power the performances, create the infrastructure and provide food and water and, while these may seem to be unavoidable necessities, there are ways in which this considerable carbon footprint can be reduced, such as using locally sourced ingredients for the food provided by the festival. It has been found that often the equipment used for the stage performances will use up to double the power necessary, and so by just using more efficient pieces of apparatus, we could cut down on a significant portion of emissions. However, the majority of the CO₂ released actually comes from travel to and from the festivals, and it is certainly within our own power to car-share, use public transport and take advantage of the coaches that many festivals provide. Glastonbury’s “Green Traveller” initiative even offers perks to those who take these options, including festival t-shirts and free yogurt!

Audience surveys show that the environment is an important consideration for the majority of festival goers, and so there is an increasing push to create greener events. For example, Latitude recycled 55% of waste and sent none to landfill sites, while Bestival runs all its campsites on waste vegetable oil and repurposes left over tents and camping equipment for those who need it, which would otherwise end up in landfill. There is a growing effort across the UK music festival industry to increase the use of renewable energies such as wind and solar power, pioneered by the likes of Croissant Neuf Summer Party and Shambala festival, both of which run on renewable energy alone.
​
​
Largely, it is in the hands of the festival organisers and suppliers to determine how eco-friendly their events are. However, there are many things we can do ourselves to reduce the negative impact that the festivals we go to have on the environment, whether this be by recycling, using biodegradable glitter, taking our tents home to be used again, or sharing a car with a stranger. All of these choices will add up, and by voicing our opinions and raising awareness of the issues we can continue towards a future of greener and more sustainable festivals.

Categories

All
Adaptation
Climate Justice
COP23
Economics
Extreme Weather
Fossil Fuels
Impacts
International
Local
Nature
Oceans
UK
UNFCCC

1 Comment
aussie essay writer link
30/10/2017 07:29:29 am

It's so terrifying and devastating to see the trashes around the area. I am so sad and the photo really broke my heart. I am an environmentalist and I pursue a lifelong and healthy environment for all. But this situation was shocking. I hope that people would be responsible enough to throw their own trashes in the garbage can or trash bin. I will be sending this to my friends to alarm them and to encourage them about Mother Earth. Thank you for sending this photo.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    OCS Media Team

    The latest in climate science, policy, perspectives and more from the OCS team.

    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    May 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017

    Categories

    All
    Adaptation
    BEIS
    Climate Justice
    Communication
    COP23
    COP24
    COP26
    Coronavirus
    DEFRA
    Eco Guide
    Economics
    Event Summary
    Extreme Weather
    Food
    Food Reviews
    Fossil Fuels
    Gender
    Global Perspectives
    Government
    Impacts
    International
    Local
    Nature
    Oceans
    Plastic
    Policy
    Pollution
    Race
    Solutions
    UK
    UNFCCC
    USA
    Women And Climate Change

    RSS Feed

Developing informed climate leaders
www.oxfordclimatesociety.com
  • About
    • What We Do
    • Who We Are
    • Our History
    • Advisory Board
    • Our Sponsors
  • Events
    • Upcoming Events
    • Videos of Past Events
  • Education
    • The Oxford School of Climate Change
    • Capstone Projects
    • Climate Change and Policy Lecture series
    • COP information
    • Climate Library
  • Action
    • Sustainability Action Guide
    • Decarbonise Oxford
    • College Sustainability Workshops
    • Legacy Campaigns >
      • Sustainability in the Curriculum
      • Oxford Climate Action Plan
  • Media and Arts
    • RISE zine
    • Anthroposphere: The Oxford Climate Review
    • Interdiscplinary Fine Art
  • Blog
    • Articles >
      • International Climate Policy
      • Global Perspectives
      • What you need to know about...
      • Past Blogs
    • Event summaries
  • Get Involved
    • Join Our Teams
    • RISE Submissions
    • Subscribe to our Newsletter
  • Alumni Network
  • Contact
  • Donate