Suzanne Bull MBE, Founder of Attitude is Everything and the charity’s Environmental Champion, reflects on the challenges and successes of 2023/24’s environmental work. This is the second instalment – you can read part one here.
Collaborating on the No Climate Action Without Us toolkit
Running alongside our internal programme, we had an extensive external programme to support the music and live events sectors to understand how climate change solutions can be accessible as well. Over the summer and autumn of 2023, Julie’s Bicycle hosted a public survey that asked the opinions of disabled audiences, artists and professionals on the accessibility of environmentally friendly solutions at venues, festivals and events. A Greener Future created three case studies of UK festivals – Shambala, Fast Forward and Green Man – focusing on their experiences of incorporating accessibility into climate change practices. Following the evidence-collecting, Julie’s Bicycle then hosted two roundtables which brought the disabled community and industry colleagues together to discuss the findings and potential solutions.
Staying true to the heart of Attitude is Everything’s way of working, which highlights barriers but at the same time gives practical solutions, we created a resource guide from the evidence collected. The ‘No Climate Action Without Us – how to include disabled people in live event sustainability’ toolkit was created in collaboration with Julie’s Bicycle, and A Greener Future. As well as revealing the key barriers that disabled people experience within initiatives that tackle sustainability, the toolkit outlined practical ways in which venues, events and festivals can implement accessible solutions in climate change.
We found out that 68% of respondents consider sustainability when choosing events to attend, but 46% of them feel excluded from participating in environmental efforts and festivals and events. 34% felt that climate change solutions didn’t meet their access needs and 46% felt unable to participate in festivals and events that align with their climate values.
However, a piece of key evidence that we didn’t expect to receive was that the language and terminology of climate change was jargonistic and idealistic, which makes it hard to understand. In comparison, access information is always straightforward and practical. For many of our survey respondents, pre-event communication forms a key part of their decision whether to attend. Communication during the event also influences the ability of people to engage in sustainability initiatives. Knowing what to expect, in clear language, and with well trained staff, contributes to the feeling of being welcome in a space. However, for many people, this kind of practical, straightforward language is missing from sustainability information. In response to this, we created the toolkit in several different formats such as Easy Read, BSL video and audio.
Because we wanted the toolkit to be in constant use, we created three pledges for the music and live events sector to sign up to: to use the toolkit and give us feedback; to report back how they’ve made sustainability solutions accessible; to work with disabled people, industry colleagues and suppliers to design, create and increase the supply of accessible, sustainable products and facilities.
No Climate Action Without Us was launched in February 2023, at A Greener Future’s GEI16 (Green Events and Innovations) Conference – the perfect place for the toolkit’s launch with over 300 delegates from across the world.
In the first three months after the toolkit’s publication, Julie’s Bicycle had 335 downloads, A Greener Future had 635 views and 20 downloads, and Attitude is Everything had 302 downloads, 970 webpage views & two views on the BSL video version.
Working in the environmental sector brought us other new partners, including Earth Percent, LIVE Green, Better Stop It and Vision 2025. For the first time we had a section on access and sustainability in Better Stop It’s More Than Music Report, and this October 2024, we’re presenting at Vision 2025’s Sustainable Event Summit.
The music and live events sectors have been vocal in their support. But embracing the toolkit means taking practical actions. Difficult conversations are inevitable, and although challenging, give us all scope to embark on this learning journey together.
The future
After giving the sector the spring and summer to use the No Climate Action Without Us toolkit, 2024/2025 will see us revise its content based on external feedback, including new ideas and solutions as well as additional case studies. These recommendations will be embedded into our revised Live Events Access Charter as this will be a key part of influencing sector change.
In autumn 2024, we will host two roundtables for disabled emerging and established artists around what they need to become more environmentally conscious while creating music and touring.
Internally, we’ll work on creating a pathway to Net Zero by 2030 and how we can protect and encourage biodiversity.
We’re also working with leadership coach and consultant Sarah Pickthall to create space on website for this environmental work, featuring three internal case studies from global organisations working on combining access and climate change solutions. This, alongside version two of No Climate Action Without Us, will go live in February 2025.
Can you support us?
We can’t do our environmental activities without your feedback and support. There two ways in which you can help us:
If you’re a Deaf, disabled or neurodivergent music creative, please complete our public survey by Monday 16th September.
If you’re involved in running a venue, festival or event, feedback on the No Climate Action Without Us toolkit by Monday 23rd September.
