Spanish Version published on Medium
I love to go to concerts and see my favorite artists live. The happiness you feel after a show is even proven by science! However, how much does a celebration like this cost our planet?
Coldplay, a group that has been inspiring us with their music for decades, asked this question. After their last tour in 2017, Coldplay announced they would stop having live concerts until there was a way to reduce the environmental impact these events caused. They were able to figure it out this year with their Music Of The Spheres World Tour. They’ve reduced their emissions by 50% by utilizing energy from renewable sources, recyclable materials, and low-consumption equipment such as LED screens.
The most impressive part of this tour is that the show is over if you do not dance or jump. Yes! You heard that right. Kinetic floors power the show by harnessing the energy generated by the movement of the crowd. This is the true definition of taking advantage of dance moves.
If this seems funny, look at this: the proceeds from each ticket sold were used to plant a tree and, therefore, to offset carbon emissions. Audience members can pedal stationary bikes to generate clean power. Also, those attendees who arrive via low-carbon travel will receive a discount code.
This is a new era of concerts, an era of green touring in which biodegradable confetti, solar panels, and bicycles that generate energy will become the norm.
When I learned about this new concert concept, I kept asking myself, “How many of these sustainable practices can be used beyond concerts?” For instance, could the kinetic energy generated by a crowd power a train station? The possibilities and potential applications are exciting.
-Manuel Barreiro Castañeda-