K-pop fans have released a report on the state of “carbon neutrality” in K-pop concerts.
The global climate action platform KPOP4PLANET announced on November 6 the publication of the report “Low-Carbon K-pop Concerts: Sing Along for Our Future”, while launching the new campaign K-pop Carbon Hunters.
The report analyzes the ESG reports of the five major companies in the K-pop industry (HYBE, SM, YG, JYP, CJ E&M) and applies an internally developed low-carbon concert checklist.
The analysis reveals that some waste reduction attempts have been made, such as recycling concert banners and producing circular merchandise. However, efforts in energy and transportation remain insufficient. No cases of renewable energy usage for concerts were observed.
YG and SM measured the carbon emissions of their concerts. YG is the only one to publish a sustainable performance report and has promised to make all of its performances sustainable by 2030.
The campaigner and author of the report, Kim Nayeon, stated that YG is the most advanced, adding that direct emission reductions are necessary to meet these goals.
The report highlights that 73% of greenhouse gas emissions in the music industry come from live concerts, with the main sources being energy, travel, waste, and food.
International examples show effective initiatives: the U.S. Portola festival ran its main stage entirely on battery power, avoiding about 6,053 gallons of diesel. Billie Eilish installed 136 solar panels at the Lollapalooza festival, while Coldplay used solar panels and a Kinetic Floor. Massive Attack reduced its carbon emissions by up to 98% using renewable energy-powered batteries.
KPOP4PLANET emphasizes the social responsibility of the K-pop industry. Kim Nayeon said, “Low-carbon concerts are an opportunity for change,” recalling experiences of concert cancellations related to the climate crisis.
For Kurt Langer, director of the Music Sustainability Alliance (MSA), this report is “an excellent roadmap for the K-pop industry.“
Here is the K-POP CARBON HUNTERS project: : HERE
Journalist: Shawn
Translator: Shawn
Source: Kpop4planet Website
