INTRODUCTION

The European Music Council is proud to present this conference reader for the 9th European Forum on Music on Climate Action: Music as a Driver for Change in its digital format. A selection of eight articles, extracts from publications and reports, were put together to give complementary information to our online series through the different layers of the theme at the heart of this year’s Forum. Divided in three main strands which represent key aspects of the music sector in regards of environment, the conference reader aims to provide additional views to what was proposed in the different events held.

Although it is not a new topic on the table, the last United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25), warned about the possible effects that climate change would have in the coming years. The data provided and the fact that there was no longer talk of a long term but rather of events that are happening right now and that will worsen in the coming years to the point where they cannot be reversed, alarmed everyone in the world and raised many questions about how we could individually collaborate to stop climate change. Actually it was not by no means a new fact: the world began to become aware of the issue especially after the COP21 in Paris in 2015, which resulted in the Paris Agreement in which governments, cities, regions, businesses and investors from all over the world decided to take action against global warming.

Additionally, and after decades of work, also the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted in 2015, keeping an important spot for Climate Action (Goal 13). Consisting of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to different topics, this agenda is a plan of action to address the global challenges we face, in order to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all.

Changes often start with the individual willing of a huge group of people. In other words, nothing can change if no one plays its role. But how can people get involved in fighting a battle, like climate change? Is it possible to find comfortable zones fostering constructive dialogues leading to action? Can the cultural sector take part on this mobilisation creating safe sp aces fo r environmental conversations? W hich role can m usic have i n contributing to pr otect an d ensure a sustainable environment? Are there any measures we can implement in the music sector to protect nature from loosing its diversity?

This year’s conference reader is made out of three sections, which gives food for thought to the readers on the relationship between music and climate change. The first part offers an overview on how culture in general can play a significant role in creating spaces for dialogue and involve people in taking collective actions. This chapter is a more philosophical one, which brings the question of how can culture be a tool to educate on environmental issues. Following this chapter, we would like

to present some artistic projects highlighting the impacts of climate change through music and art. The final section, is dedicated to a more practical side of how music events can reduce their footprint and become more environmentally friendly. Overall, the aim of our conference reader is to create more awareness in the music and cultural sector on the topic and connect it with practical guidelines and tools.

Further readings on the topic can be found at the end of the conference reader, as well as some examples of projects and activities related to the various themes presented. We hope that the articles we collected give the reader a better understanding on how can music – and the arts in general – have an important role to play to succeed as a driver for change. Note that this nonexhaustive list and articles have been especially selected in English. We are aware that not all of the text are the most recent, but we believe they were necessary to have a better picture on the theme and consider them still very relevant.

The European Music Council wishes you a good reading and remains available in case of any enquiries regarding this publication.