Giving Earth a Voice: Live Nation’s Environmental Sustainability Statement

Live Nation Entertainment is the world’s largest live entertainment company, which includes global market leaders such as Ticketmaster, Live Nation Concerts, Festival Republic, Academy Music Group, C3 Presents, LN Media and Sponsorship, and Artist Nation Management.

Live Nation Entertainment has the power to change lives. We believe that giving voice to others through music is one of the most powerful ways we can make a meaningful difference in the world. This principle also drives our sustainability approach; “Giving Earth a Voice” is our commitment to reducing our environmental impact.

We rely on the environment to create world-class live events. We are stewards of the natural spaces where our gatherings and concerts take place — the setting is an essential part of crafting the unique atmosphere that leaves lasting memories for fans.

We will demonstrate climate leadership by setting science-aligned targets that ensure our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions are in line with the Paris Agreement under the UNFCCC. This ensures that we contribute to the level of decarbonization needed to keep global warming below 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, as defined in the IPCC’s 2018 Assessment Report.

Live Nation’s Position on Climate Change

Climate change is real, and it is happening now. CO₂e levels in the atmosphere are the highest ever recorded. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and intense, affecting countless lives. Other environmental issues — such as biodiversity loss, air pollution, sea level rise, and ocean acidification — show that human behavior is unintentionally making the planet less hospitable.

With catastrophic biodiversity loss documented in the Living Planet Report, the IPCC’s urgent timeline for action, increased public awareness, and growing protests demanding government action, the need for governments, businesses, organizations, and individuals to unite and cut emissions is clearer than ever.

As global leaders in live entertainment, we have both a responsibility to preserve the live music experience for future generations and a powerful platform to inspire global environmental mobilization.

We are committed to reducing the environmental impact of our events and festivals, ensuring we are responsible global citizens who support local communities and do our part to mitigate the most harmful effects of global climate change.

We will leverage the creative ethos of our industry to inspire fans, employees, artists, and the wider sector to take small but meaningful steps to protect the planet — at our events and beyond.

Sustainability will also drive innovation and help us create long-term value for our business.

This Statement Is:

• A unifying vision that builds on our work so far and accelerates it — shifting from incremental progress to transformative action.

• An ambitious but achievable set of goals aligned with global standards and recommendations, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Science Based Targets initiative.

• An inspiring platform to engage the public, uniting the best of live music, culture, business, education, and science to tackle climate change and motivate the industry, our staff, and the millions of fans who walk through our gates.

Our Approach

We have identified eight priority areas that shape our sustainability strategy: greenhouse gas emissions and energy, resource use and waste (including plastics), water, food, public engagement, procurement, transportation, and local impact. Each area has been assessed based on its impact and contribution to the relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)[1].

Greenhouse Gas Emissions

In 2019, all Live Nation-owned and operated venues and live events began measuring their greenhouse gas emissions. The goal is to set science-based targets in line with the IPCC’s 2018 Assessment Report.

This will allow us to set annual reduction goals, aiming to reduce Scope 1 and 2 GHG emissions by 50% by 2030.

Energy

We recognize the urgency of transitioning to a low-carbon economy.

Our goal is for all Live Nation-owned and operated venues, offices, and live events to be powered by 100% renewable energy. Our facilities will operate according to certified energy efficiency standards.

Over the next decade, we will increase our share of renewable energy and invest in energy efficiency measures and certifications. We will work with partners and suppliers who help us reach our goals, support innovation, and pilot new technologies.

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Efficient Resource Use and Waste

We will prioritize waste reduction, followed by reuse, recycling, energy recovery, and disposal.

We aim for zero waste to landfill at all offices, venues, and events, and a material recovery rate of 50% or more by 2030, while accounting for local and national regulations.

We will report waste data accurately and develop waste management plans with our external partners. We will create closed-loop waste systems at our venues and events and support the growth of the circular economy.

Plastics

We will phase out the sale of single-use plastic products at all Live Nation-owned and operated venues and events by 2021. From that point, all items used must be reusable, renewable, certified compostable, or — if no alternative exists — made from at least 30% recycled material.

This includes sample containers, cutlery, plates, cups, bottles, tableware, bags, stirrers, and straws.

We will review alternatives to plastic and guide our partners toward the same objective.

Our procurement policy will prioritize:

• Reusable over single-use products

• Renewable over finite resources

• Certified compostable products where commercial composting exists

• Products with the highest available recycled content (minimum 30%)

Water

We will provide easy access to clean drinking water at our venues and events, reduce water waste, and identify high-risk areas where water use should be restricted. We will explore greywater reuse and support innovation in water conservation.

Food

We recognize industrial food production and food waste as major environmental issues. We will consider the carbon footprint of food and work with our suppliers to source food that meets the highest standards of animal welfare.

Our priority is to offer customers healthy, high-quality food.

We will minimize food waste and maximize the use of composting facilities.

Public Engagement

We will clearly and transparently communicate our sustainability goals to the public and use our platform to engage customers and raise awareness of environmental issues.

We will connect with environmental organizations and causes and collaborate at local and national levels. We will participate in sustainability discussions within and beyond our industry to share best practices and learn from others.

Partnerships and Procurement

We will collaborate with our supply chain, partners, and sponsors to achieve shared sustainability goals.

We will consider the full lifecycle of the products we source and support the development of new markets for sustainable products.

Transportation

All Live Nation venues and events should be well connected to public transport. We will work with providers and local authorities to promote sustainable travel options like buses, trams, trains, coaches, and bicycles.

For unavoidable negative impacts, we will identify, measure, and balance them with positive actions and share results with fans, artists, vendors, and collaborators.

Local Impact

Ecology – Every venue and site is unique. We will carry out projects that consider ecologically sensitive areas or cultural heritage. Where necessary, we will conduct environmental and biodiversity impact assessments to protect local flora and fauna during our events.

Noise and light pollution – We will minimize the noise and light pollution caused by our events.

Local communities – We support charities and create local employment opportunities wherever possible. We will strive to measure the economic impact of our gatherings and events on local communities.

Well-being – We will ensure the health and well-being of all staff and visitors.

Governance

Sustainability policies will be managed centrally and developed within each country to ensure that every team places sustainability at the heart of planning and operations.

Each participating country will develop an environmental management system and action plan outlining steps to meet our targets.

In 2019, we measured our baseline environmental footprint using a recognized methodology. This will serve as the foundation for setting annual goals. We will track, measure, and share our progress transparently, and aim to publish annual reports. We will participate in certification schemes where appropriate.

We will share experiences — both successes and challenges — by promoting best practices and learning from each other.

We will continually seek to expand and improve this approach.

[1] Eleven of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals are directly relevant to live music events and are listed here:
3 – Good Health and Well-being, 4 – Quality Education, 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation, 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy, 9 – Industry and Innovation, 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities, 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production, 13 – Climate Action, 14 – Life Below Water, 15 – Life on Land, and 17 – Partnerships for the Goals.