The O2 will become the first arena to host a ‘carbon removed’ event, as it announces its collaboration with carbon removal experts CUR8 and sustainable event specialists A Greener Future.
As a result of the move, headline shows by pop rock band The 1975 – set to take place in February 2024 – will see 100 tonnes of carbon removed as part of the pilot.
Using data from A Greener Future the venue can now predict the carbon impact of every event that is set to take place, including measurements on categories like transport and electricity.
This allows the venue to incorporate the cost of removing the carbon into its business model, with hospitality partner Levy UK + accounting for the removal costs in their operations, and travel costs being estimated via a survey and accounted for with a 90p extra charge on the ticket price.
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“We’re incredibly proud to be hosting the world’s first carbon removed events here at the O2,” said AEG Europe director of sustainability Sam Booth.
“The perfect large-scale carbon-free event does not currently exist, but while the industry continues to innovate and improve to reduce emissions to their lowest possible level, carbon removals will remain an important piece of the puzzle.”
“As a world-leading venue, we have a responsibility to create a path for real change, and it’s our hope that this event will not only deliver the same best-in-class experience that fans expect at The O2, but also that’s supporting climate change.”
CUR8 co-founder and chief impact officer Mark Stevenson added: “The world desperately needs to decarbonise, and we’ve been hugely impressed with the work that The O2 has been doing with A Greener Future to continually drive down their emissions.”
“What’s great about these shows is that we can demonstrate that it is now possible fold the cost of removing the residual CO2 into the existing business model, such that fans won’t notice any difference in the gig experience.”
