Climate scientist Carly McLachlan partners with UK band to put the environmental impact of concerts centre stage

In June 2021, McLachlan and her team published the Super-Low Carbon Live Music road map for the UK live-music sector (see go.nature.com/3xdyq5j). The 17-page report is one of the first attempts not only to assess the carbon costs of the UK’s live-music industry, but also to suggest clearly defined and measurable targets that the sector could work towards to meet the aim of the Paris climate agreement to limit global warming to 1.5 °C.  Massive Attack used the road map to deliver what the band hopes was the lowest-carbon concert of its size so far.  The show, which took place over the Bank Holiday weekend in August, aims be a trailblazer for other live acts to follow. All site power came from batteries powered by renewables, all food was plant based and the toilets were compostable. There were also trains chartered after the end of the show, a fleet of free electric buses to get attendees to the station and a VIP bar for those that had come on public transport.  There was broad media coverage of our work on the show – from BBC World to the New York Times.  Nature did a special feature on Carly based on this work and also covered the show.