Towards a Just and Green Music City

Brennan, M. (2023) Towards a Just and Green Music City. [Website]

Abstract

Glasgow is a world-renowned music city, but making music happen isn’t always easy. Staff and skills shortages, post-pandemic public transport recovery, rising energy and catering costs, increased red tape for international touring: these challenges and more exist for those working in music. Meanwhile, the broader economy is shifting, including through an accelerating clean energy transition in the face of climate change. How do we ensure that Glasgow’s music sector flourishes now and in the future? University of Glasgow researchers want to address this challenge in two ways: (1) identify what our city’s music sector needs to thrive in the future, and design projects to help where possible; (2) investigate what role music and culture can play in a broader just and green transition. Glasgow earned its UNESCO City of Music status for a vibrant and varied music scene that plays an important role in the city’s cultural identity and economy; it also hosted COP26 and consequently set an ambitious net zero by 2030 target that requires transformational changes for the city. Our project aims to put Glasgow’s UNESCO and COP26 identities into dialogue: although the music sector contributes a relatively small portion of Glasgow’s greenhouse gas emissions, it has a disproportionately large influencing role that makes it ideally placed to communicate and drive these transformational changes. If you would like to get involved in this initiative, find out more and how to join us below.

• Item Type: Website
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Brennan, Professor Matt
• Authors: Brennan, M.
• College/School: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Culture and Creative Arts > Music