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Research Study – The carbon footprint of Swiss festivals
This study was conducted between August 2022 and December 2022. The ambition of the study was to get an overall estimation of the total carbon footprint of the festival scene in Switzerland. The study was mandated by Music Declares Emergency (MDE) and conducted by the Swiss sustainable event expert acting responsibly AG.
The data of 30 festivals or festival-like events was included in this research. The festivals provided data related to transports, material and energy consumption through the online tool www.sustainable-events.com or via an excel table. Two festivals conducted a detailed carbon footprint study which was also included in the research. The festivals were clustered into three groups: indoor festivals, outdoor festivals without camping, and outdoor festivals with camping. Switzerland’s festival market in 2022 was estimated to count 400 festivals or festival-like events. The data provided by the festivals was verified based on the principle of plausibility and reviewed with the festival organizer in case of doubt before it was extrapolated to the total Swiss festival market.
The study shows that in 2022 the festival scene in Switzerland was responsible for the emission of approximately 128’000 tons CO2 equivalents (t CO2e). The lion’s share of the emissions (67%) derived from the mobility of the spectators and artists. The food and beverages (10%), the printing of materials (7%) and overnight stays of the artists and staff (6%) were other significant CO2e emission sources. Energy was the source of 6%, waste the source of 4% of the total emissions. Water use was responsible for less than 1% of the emissions.