Jazz Federation Aims for Carbon-Neutral Touring
The Finnish Jazz Federation has ambitiously developed its national touring operations to be more sustainable. The Jazz Union’s tours have included around 100 concerts a year in around 40 venues. The Jazzliiton hiilineutraali kiertuemalli (Carbon-Neutral Touring Model) project, implemented by the Jazz Federation in 2022–2023, initiated the regular measurement of the carbon footprint of the Federation’s touring operations. During the project, an action plan towards carbon-neutral touring was created. The plan was developed in accordance with the goals of the Live Music Climate Roadmap, taking into account the specific needs and resources of jazz music concert organisers, musicians, and agencies.
In addition to its regular touring operations, the Jazz Federation conducted seven climate pilot tours in autumn 2022, testing more sustainable ways to produce jazz tours. Information and participant experiences were collected from tours conducted with various production methods and modes of travel, such as trains and electric cars, and shared knowledge about more sustainable choices. The pilot tours considered low-emission transportation, accommodation, tour routes, different ensemble configurations, and catering. The carbon footprints of all tours were calculated. The Jazz Federation utilised the information gathered from the pilot tours in spring 2023 to create the roadmap towards carbon-neutral touring.
Regarding transportation, the lowest-emission tours optimised transitions to be as short as possible, with long distances travelled by train. If public transport is not feasible for short transitions, emissions can be reduced by using electric cars instead of diesel cars. The emissions from using diesel vehicles can be reduced by using renewable diesel and driving with a light load. Economical driving and moderate speeds also reduce emissions. Musicians on the pilot tours were generally satisfied with travelling by train and electric car.
Reaching multiple audiences in a geographically small area within a short time frame is climate-smart. Performing at school concerts alongside evening concerts was a positive experience for musicians on the pilot tours. A satellite tour from one place of accommodation to nearby areas was seen as a way to support the well-being of musicians, and the short distances also supported emission reduction targets. If such a tour is not possible, emissions can be reduced with well-chosen apartment accommodations instead of hotel accommodations.
The Finnish Jazz Federation encouraged concert organisers to make more sustainable choices when touring with the help of the green riders created as part of the project. The wish lists sent by artists to concert venues requested energy savings, waste reduction, encouraging the audience to travel to the concert venue by public transport, and offering vegan food to artists and the audience.
In addition to reducing the emissions of the Jazz Federation’s production (e.g. promotional materials, transport, accommodation, production subsidies granted), the aim is that the more sustainable solutions of the Jazz Federation will also have a positive impact on the culture of the tour commissioners, producers, technicians and musicians. The roadmap created as a result of the project aims for carbon-neutral tours by 2030 through additional and verifiable climate actions.
The climate roadmap has been implemented since 2024. According to the roadmap, the Jazz Federation has given up its own tour van, and on two tours in 2024, artists primarily travelled by train, utilising local backline, equipment, and technicians. These measures have saved both environmental and financial resources. Accommodation emissions have been reduced by lodging artists in environmentally certified hotels whenever possible, and before each tour, the Jazz Federation’s Vihreät muistilistat (Green Checklists) are provided to artists, technicians, and concert organisers to guide more sustainable practices.
Additionally, the Finnish Jazz Federation pilots tours where, in addition to evening concerts, performances are held in schools and care homes, reducing the concert-specific carbon footprint of the tour and simultaneously promoting the social accessibility of jazz music. In 2024, the Jazz Federation participated in voluntary emission reduction projects (domestic reforestation project) with an amount equivalent to the emissions from self-produced tours, all tour bus journeys, and business travel.
Read more: Yhdessä kohti kestävämpiä jazzkiertueita – Jazzliiton kiertueiden ilmastotiekartta