Major and Indie Labels Sign ‘Music Climate Pact’ to Reach Net Zero Emissions by 2050

The music industry has embraced the goal of reaching net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Both major and independent labels have signed a “Music Climate Pact” this month to reduce their emissions and support climate action.

“By aligning as a sector, we stand to de-politicise sustainability and address our biggest environmental impacts in an efficient and collaborative way,” the Pact reads. “There is a lot of work to be done if we are to become a more sustainable industry, but we will be guided by climate science and take tangible, unified action and regularly update on our progress.”

Signatories include major labels Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group as well as independents like Beggars, the Secretly groups of labels, Warp and Ninja Tune, The Guardian reported.

Any group signing the pact must have made one of two commitments by February 2022: signing the Science Based Targets standard commitment letter or joining the UN’s Race to Zero programme. Both of these mean setting a goal of halving emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050.

In addition to reducing emissions and signing one of the above schemes, the labels are also agreeing to

1. Work together to design science-based carbon measurement tools
2. Work with suppliers and streaming platforms to gather data and reduce emissions
3. Support artists who speak up about climate change
4. Speak to fans about the climate impacts of the music industry

Paul Redding, who serves as chief executive of Beggars Group, told The Guardian that participating labels would be “pulling in the same direction on sustainability topics” in order to “carry out the same work, in the same way, at the same time.”

The Music Climate Pact was inspired by the COP26 climate conference this November, Pitchfork reported. It was also developed with the help of the UN Environment Programme.

The Pact launched December 14 with 14 founding signatories, but the group hopes that 100 total labels will have signed on by April, edie reported.

The Pact is also being supported by trade groups like the Association of Independent Music UK, the American Association of Independent Music and the British Phonographic Industry (BPI).

“The music community must take a leadership position on this most urgent of issues to support the work already being progressed by record labels to make their operations more sustainable,” BPI’s chief executive Geoff Taylor told edie. “It means not just taking our own effective and coordinated industry action to respond to the climate crisis, but using the power of music to help inspire others in effecting meaningful change.”