As the chaos around us continues, we bring you another monthly burst of positive sustainability news. This November we feature Massive Attack's pioneering plans, a plethora of free events for event professionals to stay engaged and inspired; our Industry Green Leader Q&A #7 with We Love Green's Marie Sabot; plus speakers are announced for the #WeMakeTheFuture Autumn webinar series, and a Powerful Thinking Blog on Hydrogen Fuel Cells at events. Enjoy!

Please get in touch if you'd like to write a blog, have news to share, or want to join the growing community taking action on climate change.

In December 2019 Massive Attack and The Good Business Festival announced plans to deliver a ‘super low carbon’ music event in Summer 2020. Earlier that year Massive Attack worked with The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research to map the full carbon footprint of typical tour cycles, and find ways to significantly reduce them. 

Covid-19 forced the show to be postponed, but also increased the sense of urgency around what the show needed to be. This short film gives an update on the ambitions from the band and the festival for this exemplar event. Watch it HERE.

In this month’s guest blog Mark Denbigh, Head of Production & Programme at Norfolk & Norwich Festival, shares his journey to establishing sustainability at the heart of an event and organisation: From inspiring the team and working with the local community to implementing initiatives with suppliers and artists and encouraging collaboration across the sector.

Mark has recently joined the Vision: 2025 steering group and N&N Festival have taken the #Vision2025 pledge to cut environmental impacts by 50% by 2025 along with our community of over 100 events and festivals. Read the blog HERE.

Speakers and content are announced for the Vision: 2025 #WeMakeTheFuture Autumn webinar series, hosted by Julie's Bicycle, which aims to bring together event professionals to enable, and encourage, informed action on climate breakdown as plans are made to #BuildBackBetter..

The three webinars will take place over the next six weeks, covering core themes for transformation:

Net Zero Emissions, 11 November 2-3pm
Circular Economy, 25 November 2-3pm
Speaking Up and Out to Lead Change, 9 December 2-3pm

Among the guests to join the series are Christopher Jones, from The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research; Patricia Yagüe, Head of Sustainability at Live Nation Europe; Frances Fox - climate justice activist with Fridays for Future and XR Youth; and Paul Schurink from Green Events Netherland – with more speakers to be announced over the coming weeks. More programme details and REGISTER HERE. 

Marie Sabot is an Associate Director of We Love Art, and has been making electronic and alternative music scenes buzz for the past 20 years as Director of We Love Green Festival in Paris, where she has proven that a major city-based event can work in harmony with the environment, and be a hub of innovative, eco-friendly initiatives and ideas. This November she shares her answers to our 20 Event Industry Leaders questions - read them HERE. 

In October Andy Fryers, Sustainability Director at Hay Festival joined us for the Q&A, read his answers HERE.

Industry Climate Leader and consultant, Chris Johnson, has launched the first in a series of free Q&A sessions 'Let's Talk About...' with the first topic,'Sustainable Events: Implementing New Initiatives,' on Thursday 12th November from 2-3pm. 

Participants can send specific questions to be covered (by November 8th) and pre-register for the ive-stream HERE.

Julie’s Bicycle have announced their speakers for the Creative Green Awards ceremony, including keynote Gillian Burke, talking about the role of culture in climate leadership. 

The Awards recognise and honour the achievements of the creative community taking action on climate change. This year the event will be held in a virtual ceremony on Friday 13th November, 4:45pm-6:15pm. See the full line up of speakers and register HERE.

Join Livvy Drake, Consultant at Sustainable Sidekicks, on Tuesday 24th November, 5-6.15pm, for a workshop that explores effective communication and initiative strategies to engage your audience with your sustainability goals.  Register HERE.

Here's what the Vision: 2025 team are watching, listening to, and reading this month:

Don't Give Up Now - Standout Magazine's monthly Green Column provides an update on plastic and resubale cups in a covid context. Read it here HERE.

The Sustainable Event Alliance have launched the Reusables Hygiene at Events Best Practice Guidelines - commit to reusables and download HERE

The Kilian Jornet Foundation launch The Outdoor Friendly Pledge to promote a more sustainable practice of outdoor sports and sporting events. Find out more HERE. 

Season for Change have announced their full three-week programme of free online events for artists, arts organisations and cultural practitioners. Check it out HERE. 

Wildscreen Festival 2020 streamed this fascinating conversation between Sir David Attenborough and Greta Thunberg in October. Watch it HERE.

Edie presents Zero Net Live 2020, November 10-12: an online event connecting energy and sustainability professionals to accelerate climate action and drive a green recovery. Register HERE.

Chris Goodall, author of What We Need to Do Now, defines a nine-point plan for the UK to achieve net zero carbon emissions in The Guardian HERE. 

The Major Events Summit runs on 2nd December; covering how organisations can manage the challenges of event delivery in the midst of a global pandemic. Register HERE. 

In this month’s Powerful Thinking blog, steering group Chair Tim Benson explores Hydrogen Fuel Cell (HFC) technology, as the latest developments from pilot projects in the EU and UK bring the reality of temporary power provision for events closer to the UK market.

Tim discusses HFC achievements so far, notably from EVERYWH2ERE and at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2019; looks at the HFC products available now; and shares his thoughts on the viability of these kinds of solutions being widely employed for temporary power applications. Read the blog HERE.