Sound Emissions

Fans have got the power, the power to influence environmental change through the purchasing decisions they make. Collectively, if fans decide to direct their money to shows or events or music products that have a lesser carbon footprint, the music industry (including its suppliers) is going to pay very close attention to your preferences. Changes to the business as usual model would occur very quickly in response to these preferences.

While fans can avoid and reduce carbon emissions associated with their love affair with music, there will always be some circumstances whereby it is impossible or highly impractical to do so.
For instance, travelling to a festival in a regional centre may require use of a private vehicle (due to a lack of suitable public transport).
 

While carbon offsetting sits at the bottom of the energy hierarchy, it still has a very valuable role to play in managing carbon emissions.
 

So what is carbon offsetting?
Carbon offsetting is the process of measuring your greenhouse gas emissions then compensating for, or ‘offsetting’, your emissions by investing in projects that reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emitted globally into the atmosphere.

There are a number of carbon offset service providers in Australia who can help offset your unavoidable emissions. These guys will undertake the following steps to offset your emissions:
1. Determine your boundaries - For example do you plan to offset your accommodation emissions or are you only considering your travel emissions to and from the gig?
2. Measure emissions - The offset provider will identify the relevant emissions sources and calculate a comprehensive ‘carbon footprint’ using internationally agreed carbon emissions formulas.
3. Retire your calculated emissions - The offset provider will then invest in renewable energy generation or bio-sequestration by buying nationally and internationally recognised carbon credits.
 

Here are a number of tips you should consider before choosing a carbon offset provider
(Carbon Offset Watch 2008 Assessment Report, Institute for Sustainable Futures):
• Only buy offsets from offset retailers who provide detailed information about their products and services, and the projects they use to generate offsets. Projects may be in Australia or overseas. Ask for more information if you need it. :
• Choose retailers that help you estimate your carbon footprint and explain how the footprint is calculated.
• Choose offsets that are independently accredited by a recognised scheme or standard such as offsets accredited under the international Gold Standard and Clean Development Mechanism. Offsets accredited by VCS, VER+ and Greenhouse Friendly are also of a very high quality.
• Choose offset projects that change or prevent the underlying activities that create greenhouse gases. These are best for combating climate change in the long-term. Such projects include those that:

• improve energy efficiency
• increase renewable energy
• prevent waste going to landfill
• protect existing forests.
• Get documentary evidence of your offset purchase.

www.soundemissions.com.au