The Sustainability Working Group, abbreviated as ak:n, is a part of the Berlin Music Commission (BMC) and was established in 2019 in collaboration with the Senate of the Economy. It brings together professionals from the fields of business, events, and education committed to promoting sustainability in the long term.
Our primary focus is on connecting individuals and organizations within the music industry who are already engaged in sustainable practices and those looking to incorporate sustainability into their work. We facilitate connections, advocate for sustainability and climate protection within the music industry, and share our knowledge at conferences, festivals, and events like the music conference, Most Wanted: Music in Berlin. On our website, we compile resources, tips, and best practices for a sustainable music and event industry.
Music production, music events organization, and even music streaming all have significant impacts on the climate and the environment. As ak:n, we consider it our responsibility to encourage both large and small music events, as well as music industry stakeholders, to reconsider and adopt sustainable measures. must be climate and environmentally friendly, and this is what we, as ak:n, are committed to promoting.
Music Declares Emergency Deutschland, Mediapool Berlin, Hoeme, Beuth-Hochschule, fkp scorpio, European Music Council, BTA, Velomax, Pachamama Culture, Piranha arts, Concert Concept, NIYU.sustainability by NIYU, Superunknown, Green Music Initiative, Greentouring, The Changency
Large-scale events consulting, Education & Research, Certification
Mauricio’s extensive credentials include a background in business administration and a Master of Music Business from New York University. Following his role as a marketing product manager at BASF, he established the music agency, PC. He is also recognized as the co-founder of ‘Salon de Baile’ and credited for his instrumental role in programming and curating the Latin Alternative floor at the renowned Fusion Festival.
Mauricio’s impact extends internationally, where he organizes and produces live performances for diverse musical acts. Additionally, he is a co-founder and spokesperson of the Sustainability Working Group (ak:n) at the Berlin Music Commission (BMC). Currently, Mauricio is developing Music C-A-R-E-S, an award-winning platform dedicated to sustainability in the live music industry.
Consulting Touring and Artists
Dr. Birte Jung is an accomplished sustainability consultant and transformation manager, holding a background in landscape planning and architecture. Her dedication to fostering a sustainable future for music and cultural events, with a particular emphasis on open spaces, spans over a decade. Her doctoral research delved into the sustainable use of public open spaces for events, showcasing her commitment to pioneering sustainable practices in the field. Birte holds an IHK certification as a transformation manager for sustainable culture and is a recognized representative for sustainable event management in compliance with ISO 20121 standards. She has played a pivotal role in developing various action guides for sustainable events, including the Greener Fête de la Musique handout (in German) and the Climate Neutral Events in Berlin action guide (in German).
Open-air events, consulting & research, climate assessments & certifications
Judith Engelhardt boasts extensive experience in marketing and communication. Her current role as a Marketing & Communication Consultant at Velomax Berlin Hallenbetriebs GmbH. Her deep-rooted passion for music and events shines through her prior role as a Marketing Manager for festivals and events. Judith is deeply committed to promoting sustainable practices within the music industry and is a co-founder of the Sustainability Working Group (ak:n) at the Berlin Music Commission (BMC). In her current capacity, she serves as the point of contact for overseeing sustainability initiatives for Velomax Berlin Hallenbetriebs GmbH’s two multifunctional event venues: the Velodrom and the Max-Schmeling-Halle.
Consulting on sustainability communication and venues’ best practices
Eva brings experience in event and project management within diverse international contexts, complemented by her Master’s degree in Creative Events Management. Her passion lies in fostering audience behaviour change through transformative experiences. Notably, her Master’s thesis, titled “Using transformative design for long-lasting pro-environmental attitudinal change in reluctant music festival audiences” was awarded a distinction by Falmouth University.
Additionally, Eva is a certified assessor for A Greener Future and has experience with the ISO 20121 certification. She is also certified in Disability Equality For The Live Event Industry by Attitude is Everything. In June 2023, Eva joined the BMC team as a Sustainability Manager.
Berlin Convention Office: Sustainable Event Guidelines Berlin
Centre for Climate Change and Social Transformations: From carbon footprints to cultural influence: Engaging live music audiences on travel choices
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ): Guide – Sustainable Event Management
Ecolibrium: Sustainable travel guide for artists & the music industry
European Commission: 7 steps for greener events
Federal Ministry for Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety: Guidelines on Sustainable Event Organisation
Future Festival Tools: Event Sustainability E-Learning Course
Jint: Sustainable Event Guidelines
Yourope: European Green Festival Roadmap 2030
A Greener Future (previously A Greener Festival) is a not-for-profit company helping organisations, events, festivals and venues around the world to be more sustainable and reduce environmental impacts. Pioneers in event sustainability since 2005, and founders of the worlds first green event and festival certification, AGF provide training, expertise, support, carbon footprint and Net Zero strategy, and facilitate exchange through events and networking. Together with the International Live Music Conference (ILMC), the world’s leading platform for the touring, entertainment and festival industry, AGF organises the GEI, one of the leading conferences for sustainability in events, music and sports.
AKTIONSNETZWERK NACHHALTIGKEIT (ger)
Aktionsnetzwerk Nachhaltigkeit is a cross-sectoral contact point for the topic of operational ecology in the field of culture and media. Funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media, pilot projects are initiated, accompanied, documented and communicated.
CLUBTOPIA (ger)
Clubtopia is committed to the sustainable and climate-friendly transformation of the Berlin club scene. The project connects experts in nightlife and sustainability and motivates them to take concrete climate-friendly action in club and event operations. Together with committed club operators, event organisers and festival organisers, they have developed the Code of Conduct “Zukunft Feiern! This Code of Conduct is a sustainability tool by and for clubs and festivals that aims to successfully implement effective and socially responsible climate protection measures in club and festival operations. By signing the code, club operators, festival organisers, open air organisers and collectives commit to planning their events as sustainably as possible.
Future Festival Tools is a project that brings us together to tackle the industry’s environmental impact by creating tools, resources & training for the festival industry. It is a certified e-learning course, event self-assessment tool, best-practice guide and trainers’ handbook for event businesses.
GREEN CLUB INDEX (ger)
The Green Club Index pilot project is the first national project on energy efficiency in the club sector. The aim is to finally tap the enormous climate protection potential in this area.
Green Events is a knowledge platform for building a sustainable and social event industry. They focus on human wellbeing within the earth’s natural boundaries.
They share knowledge through workshops, articles, webinars, conferences, and advice, identify and address contemporary problems and future regulations, and actively seek out solutions and viable perspectives for the industry. Together with Amsterdam Dance Event and Nachtlab Agency, Green Events organises “ADE Green”, a conference that promotes and supports sustainability, innovation and social change in the music and events industry.
GREEN EVENTS HAMBURG (ger)
Green Events Hamburg (GEHH) is an open, participatory network that promotes the sustainable orientation of events, whether in the field of sports, entertainment, education, music, theater or assembly. To achieve this goal, GEHH brings together stakeholders from public administration, business, and civil society and works with them to develop practical responses to industry-specific challenges, such as waste, energy consumption, mobility and logistics, and social participation. GEHH operates an online information portal (www.greenevents.hamburg) for event organizers and other interested parties who want to implement ecologically sustainable (“green”) events in Hamburg, and regularly invites to networking events. GEHH is a project of the Grüner Wirtschaftsrat e.V. association. The Grüner Wirtschaftsrat is committed to sustainable entrepreneurship in Hamburg.
GREEN MUSIC INITIATIVE (ger)
The Green Music Initiative serves as a platform for promoting a climate-friendly music and entertainment industry. In close cooperation with renowned scientific institutes, stakeholders and well-known artists, reduction strategies are implemented in an exemplary manner. The goal is to reduce CO2 emissions and environmental impacts in all areas.
GREEN TOURING NETWORK (ger)
We at the Green Touring Network have made it our mission to support artists and players in the music industry in making an active contribution to environmental protection. Together we want to make a difference in the industry and develop it into a more sustainable and future-proof industry.
HÖME – FOR FESTIVALS (ger)
Höme is for everyone who loves, discovers and creates festivals. We live for the ideas that make work easier for the people behind the stages and change the festival world in the long term. We make festivals discoverable, develop technologies together with those who use them, stimulate knowledge exchange and bring people together. We also believe that the music industry and especially festivals need to be part of the change and sustainability needs to be an integral part of their work: Because festivals and music can change society. Because festival organizers should make use of their role and access to thousands of fans. Because each of us has a part to play in ensuring that our industry has a future.
Julie’s Bicycle is a leading not-for-profit, mobilising the arts and culture to take action on the climate, nature and justice crisis. Combining cultural and environmental expertise, Julie’s Bicycle focuses on high-impact programmes and policy change to meet the climate crisis head-on.
Music Declares Emergency is a group of artists, music industry professionals and organisations that stand together to declare a climate and ecological emergency and call for an immediate governmental response to protect all life on Earth. We believe in the power of music to promote the cultural change needed to create a better future.
Our common goal is to become active as musicians for climate and nature protection. We want to deal with the climate crisis in unusual concert formats. The emotional power of music is the medium for us to reach and inspire people.
Pachamama Culture has been founded in Berlin focusing on the integration of Alternative music and culture across European and American markets. Since 2004 Mauricio Lizarazo Prada has artistically produced and managed different music bands and creative projects. Pachamama Culture started primarily as a Live-Music production project and has developed into a sustainable venture, including production, tour management and booking with social responsibility.
THE CHANGENCY (ger)
The Changency stands for empowerment and enthusiasm. We want to be the catalyst for change towards a climate-friendly and sustainable music industry. Our vision is to be part of the best party in town: a party that manages to combine the passion and radiance of music with a better, more equitable way of life for all. A sustainability that is fun, offers opportunities and shows solutions through creative ideas. Motivation instead of resignation is our motto!
Live shows in particular emit huge amounts of emissions. According to an Oxford study, the visitors’ travel to live concerts is responsible for the largest share of CO2 emissions in the British music market, at over 40%. Innsite Booking Munich has therefore designed a logo to be integrated on all tickets to encourage concert-goers to travel in a climate-friendly way. Thanks to the kind support of all major ticketing systems, the logo can now be integrated on tickets completely free of charge, quickly and easily. A maximum positive effect can only be achieved if all concert-goers are reached and sensitised to the issue. That’s why the initiative of all artists, managers, agencies and organisers is needed.
Every year, the Berlin Music Commission presents the sustainability award at the listen to berlin: Awards. The prize is awarded to a person, a company or an initiative that has made a sustainable contribution to a “greener” Berlin music landscape through particularly ecological actions. Website
PRODUCTION RIDER
The own rider is the first clue to a sustainable appearance and will also make organizers rethink. We have collected some tips that you can adopt for yourself:
To emphasize the relevance of these points and that nothing is overlooked it is helpful to repeat individual sections, announce them with “Please note/Please note” and mark them in bold.
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MERCH
Ever thought about the working conditions, materials and environmental impact behind your merchandise? These suppliers focus on production within Europe under fair conditions and with sustainable materials:
