A Greener Way to Gather…

Events bring people together for shared experiences, but they also generate significant greenhouse gas emissions—often far more than organizers realize. The Climatepalooza Certification makes use of a simple, easy-to-use Event Emissions Calculator to help festivals, concerts, and other gatherings better understand and reduce their climate impact. The goal is to provide organizers with actionable insights and a meaningful certification — for audiences, sponsors, and communities — reflecting the full picture of an event’s progress toward sustainability.

Four key criteria - Among the main contributors to an event’s climate footprint are 1) attendee transportation, 2) event power sources, 3) artist, crew and equipment transport, and 4) food and beverage packaging. By breaking these factors into measurable categories, the Event Emissions Calculator makes it easier to identify where the biggest impacts occur and where improvements can make the greatest difference.

Attendee transportation — The way people travel to and from a venue generally accounts for the majority of an event’s footprint (≈55%) and is therefore weighted most heavily. The Event Emissions Calculator uses AI-powered predictions, based on event location and accessibility, to estimate how many attendees will arrive by low-carbon options like public transit, cycling, walking or shuttles versus higher-carbon options such as private cars. Organizers can then refine these estimates with their own knowledge of the audience or planned transportation programs.

Event Power Sources — How an event is powered is also a significant contributor to its climate footprint (≈30%). Many outdoor events still rely on diesel generators for power, but much greener options are readily available. Battery generators charged with renewable power are an easy alternative, and utilities often offer power sourced from renewable sources. The Event Emissions Calculator helps organizers understand how their choices for sourcing power will impact their overall footprint.

Artists, crew and equipment — Also relevant is the means of transport for artists, crew, and equipment to the event (≈10%). Artists traveling by bus or making use of electric vehicles or rail can dramatically reduce their personal footprint at an event.

Food and beverage containers — A final factor is the packaging used by promotors at an event (≈5%). Facilitating the use of refillable containers is ideal for purposes of an events carbon footprint and also avoids waste. Recyclable aluminum and compostable containers are an excellent alternative for those without refillable containers. Avoiding single use plastics not only helps with reducing the carbon footprint. It is highly visible and pertinent to overall environmental impacts.

Learn more about the climate impacts of the different choices for your event and obtain a Climatepalooza Certification today!