K-Pop Planet Calls Out Inadequate Low-Carbon Concert Practices in Korea’s K-POP Industry... “Environmental Responsibility Must Match Global Influence”

K-Pop fan climate action platform “K-Pop Planet” released a report titled “Low-Carbon Concerts: A New Stage to Save K-Pop,” urging greater environmental responsibility within the K-POP industry. With over 70% of total carbon emissions in the music industry coming from live performances, the report argues that K-Pop falls short of making concrete reduction efforts given its global influence. The report highlights examples of low-carbon concert practices by international artists. Coldplay enabled fans to generate their own electricity during their world tour using “bicycle generators” and “kinetic floors.” Billie Eilish installed 136 solar panels on her 2023 Lollapalooza stage, reducing carbon emissions by more than 1 ton, and introduced “ChangeMaker Tickets” on her 2024 tour, where the difference between regular and premium tickets is automatically donated to climate nonprofits. The British band Massive Attack operated its “Act 1.5” festival using 100% renewable energy batteries, cutting carbon emissions by up to 98%. In contrast, Korea’s K-POP industry remains limited in this regard. After analyzing ESG reports from major agencies such as CJ ENM, HYBE, JYP, SM, and YG, K-Pop Planet found that no concerts have yet utilized renewable energy, and few have set public reduction targets. However, some attempts at reducing waste or creating upcycled merchandise have been observed, with YG Entertainment being the first in the industry to release a sustainable concert report. K-Pop Planet proposed five feasible solutions. First, emission levels throughout the entire concert process—ranging from energy use for lighting, sound, and HVAC systems to equipment transportation, fan movement, waste disposal, and food provision—must be quantitatively measured and transparently disclosed. YG Entertainment’s “YOUR GREEN STEP” online platform used at BLACKPINK’s 2023 concerts is an example, as it designed the system to require 7% of all fans (2,070 people) to input their travel routes, collecting data that included overseas fans’ movements as well. Second, diesel generators should be replaced with renewable energy-based battery systems (ESS). The U.S.-based “Luck Reunion” festival operated its main stage for four days using a hybrid battery system, cutting electricity costs in half compared to diesel use, while the Seongnam Culture Foundation’s “Seongnam Park Concert” reduced carbon emissions to nearly “zero” levels by using truck-mounted ESS charged with renewable energy. The U.K.’s The O2 venue entered into power purchase agreements with local solar and hydroelectric plants, replaced all lighting with LED systems, and achieved approximately 300,000 kWh in energy savings alone in 2023. Third, artists must take proactive steps to exert positive influence. Billie Eilish collaborated with nonprofit Riverbend to operate an “Action Village” booth at her concerts, allowing fans to connect with climate organizations or sign up for vegetarian pledges. The British rock band The 1975 drove 29,800 climate actions through interactive booths in 2023. In Korea, BLACKPINK has been setting up “YOUR GREEN STEP” booths at its concerts since 2023 to measure fans’ carbon footprints. Fourth, concert venues need to implement policies banning single-use waste. Coldplay prohibited the bringing of single-use water bottles during its world tour and operated “water refill stations,” while also collecting eco-friendly LED bracelets for reuse at subsequent shows. Billie Eilish introduced reusable water bottles through her “#RockNRefill” program, and Massive Attack completely banned single-use items and plastics at its concerts. In Korea, the 2024 Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival reduced waste by approximately 2.5 tons by encouraging the use of reusable containers. Fifth, environmental considerations must be applied to fan and equipment transportation, as this sector accounts for the largest share of concert-related carbon emissions. Kim Na-yeon, a campaigner at K-Pop Planet, stated, “K-Pop needs carbon responsibility commensurate with its global influence, requiring concrete actions such as measuring and disclosing emissions across the entire concert process, using renewable energy, reducing waste, and minimizing travel.” This report is viewed as a “call to action on climate issues” directed at the global music industry ahead of the 30th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30).