Coldplay announced a hiatus from touring in 2019 due to concerns around sustainability. Their newly announced Music of the Spheres tour addresses these issues, but how?

Coldplay’s latest tour, which will kick off in March 2022, has been designed to be “at minimum” net-zero in relation to its carbon footprint. A combination of measures will be put into place to ensure this goal is met. Kinetic dance floors and electricity-producing exercise bikes will be available for fans to power the show’s battery. A tree planted for every ticket sold, plus sets built from sustainable and recycled materials, will all go towards the effort.

Taking a progressive approach to the issue of carbon emissions involved in touring, the band have partnered with the Swiss company Climeworks. The company builds machines which take carbon dioxide from the air, carefully storing it, so it can be used commercially at a later date.

The Music of the Spheres tour aims to meet a 50% reduction in carbon footprint based on Coldplay’s previous tour in 2016/17.

“We pledge to drawdown any unavoidable emissions according to the Oxford Principles for Net-Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting.”

Solar installations and the use of waste cooking oil will also go towards powering the shows. Chartered flights will also be avoided, as far as transport is concerned. The band have also pledged to pay a surcharge to use or supply Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), a renewable fuel.

Coldplay’s shows are known for their colourful and vibrant production. There will still be plenty of impressive flames and bright confetti, but these will be sustainable and biodegradable, respectively.

A full breakdown, detailing the reinvention of the touring cycle, can be found on the band’s website. Not only do they aim to fully minimise the carbon footprint of touring, they have set out to make it “environmentally beneficial”.

A host of natural measures have been promised too, including marine conservation efforts and rewilding.

Whilst the band admits it can’t do everything perfectly, they have stated they are committed to changing everything they can in the name of sustainability.

90% of carbon emissions related to music touring comes from transport. Whilst flying is unavoidable, the use of renewable fuel is a step in the right direction. If these methods prove to be viable, net-zero touring could become standard practice. Although, how far in the future that may be is unclear.