By Sarah Pickthall

Sustainability and access need to be discussed together in the industry – in the same conversation. This paves the way for a shared commitment between all parties to accessible sustainability measures. 

“Having more advocacy around access and sustainability can take that burden off. It would be so useful to have someone who can fight these battles alongside you.“

Ethical conflicts 

Each choice we make has ethical implications. Being better informed can help disabled music creatives make choices that sit more comfortably with their values.

“I’ve found it difficult to find information on who is making tech for DJ stuff, and I know it can be made in troubled places, like the Congo. Putting on an event for Black and brown people, and then knowing people are dying to make this equipment – we need more information!”

Transportation conflicts 

For many of those surveyed and spoken to throughout our No Climate Action Without Us work, transportation was still felt to be problematic.  

“If a disabled musician needs to use a car or van for access ease, and to conserve energy for themselves, or to make transporting equipment more manageable, there is often a feeling of being judged.“

Travelling by train or bus is often inaccessible and alienating. For others, who are able to access it and who can’t drive, access or afford a car, it is the only viable way of getting around. 

Accessible transport to events is either unavailable or environmentally unsustainable  – on top of that, it can also be expensive. 

For many disabled creatives, travel in itself is anxiety- inducing. 

“So often, it’s the transit or travel that is more challenging for me than the performance itself.” 

Climate sustainability vs accessible dietary and consumption requirements 

There were conversations about event and festival catering, especially environmentally-friendly provisions which can often clash with disabled music creatives’ dietary requirements and even be unsafe for people with very specific needs. It’s not only the food itself or how much it costs, but how to get to stalls, as well as the use of utensils and cutlery. This gave rise to the ongoing debate around single use plastics and how they’re still the only accessible option for many disabled music creatives. 

For many disabled people food and catering choices have to be accessible and safe before environmentally sustainable.  

Energy is an important part of this. Having the energy and accessibility to prepare food, eat it and clear up often means that disabled music creatives in studios, at festivals or on tour have to rely on easy and fast things to prepare and eat. Or they have to bring their own supplies. 

For many, an environmentally sustainable diet, such as a vegan diet is often more difficult to prepare, more costly to achieve, and may not be suitable some disabled people who have chronic health conditions.