Liverpool is set to host a groundbreaking series of concerts in celebration of being designated the world’s first ‘UN Accelerator City’ for climate action. The ‘Act 1.5 presents…’ event will take place from November 28th to 30th at the city’s M&S Bank Arena, featuring performances by renowned artists such as Massive Attack, IDLES, and Nile Rodgers.
The announcement of Liverpool as the world’s inaugural ‘UN Accelerator City’ for climate action was made at the UN Headquarters in New York. This recognition highlights the city’s dedication to implementing technical innovations and smart regulations to rapidly reduce carbon emissions in the live music and TV/Film production sectors.
Building on successful initiatives in Bristol and in collaboration with clean energy provider Ecotricity, the ‘Act 1.5 presents…’ concert series will implement a range of measures to significantly decrease carbon emissions and air pollution typically associated with events of this scale. These measures include a localized presale period for residents of the Liverpool City Region, powering the entire event site with 100% renewable energy, promoting a public transport incentive program, offering a meat-free arena, ensuring zero to landfill waste removal, implementing a single technical set-up shared by all acts, and concluding the shows earlier to facilitate the use of public transport for attendees.
Robert Del Naja, known as 3D of Massive Attack, expressed excitement about the opportunity to demonstrate that major live music events can align with the Paris 1.5 Agreement and that audiences are receptive to environmentally friendly changes. He emphasized the importance of transitioning away from fossil fuels and commended artists like Coldplay for embracing sustainable practices recommended in the Tyndall Centre Paris 1.5 decarbonization roadmap.
Renowned musician Nile Rodgers, who is set to perform at the event, shared his enthusiasm for returning to Liverpool and highlighted the significance of joining forces with Massive Attack to promote Liverpool’s UN climate action initiative within the music and film industries. He stressed the importance of the global community coming together to address climate change and emphasized the role of the music and film communities in taking action.
Ticket sales for the ‘Act 1.5 presents…’ concerts will be released in two blocks to address the carbon emissions and air pollution associated with audience travel. The first block will be reserved for residents of the Liverpool City Region, with a regional presale period that includes a fixed fee covering public transport to and from the event. The unique TAG ticket (Travel and Gig) aims to reduce the environmental impact of audience travel and contribute to cleaner air in Merseyside.
In the second block release, tickets will be available to all fans, with offers and incentives for public transport from outside the region. This approach aims to encourage sustainable travel practices and reduce the carbon footprint of attendees coming from various locations to attend the concerts.
Overall, the ‘Act 1.5 presents…’ series of concerts in Liverpool represents a significant step towards promoting sustainable practices in the music industry and raising awareness about the importance of climate action. By implementing innovative measures and collaborating with key partners, Liverpool is leading the way in demonstrating how major events can be environmentally friendly and socially responsible.