This will be achieved through a combination of efforts in all areas of the tour, including:
To address the unavoidable emissions that remain after our reduction plans are implemented, we will offset the tour’s CO2e through a mix of certified, credible, or verified projects and high quality nature and technology based solutions. Furthermore, we will invest in projects that will offset more than our measured carbon footprint to make our tour as climate positive as possible.
The simplest way to quantify environmental impact to ensure a climate positive tour is through measuring our CO2e output from various key sources such as production transport, show energy and audience travel.
Here are some helpful definitions:
‘Climate Positivity’ is a term used to describe an individual, organisation or entity that takes action to remove or offset more CO2e emissions from the environment than it puts in. This term can be used interchangeably with ‘carbon negativity,’ since the net output of the overall CO2e emissions is negative.
'CO2e' stands for 'Carbon Dioxide Equivalent'. This is the universal unit of measurement used to indicate the global warming potential of each of the seven greenhouse gases, which include carbon dioxide (CO2) but also other gases like methane. Because each of these gases have different levels of climate change impact, CO2e allows us to quantify the impact of these gases in a consistent and measurable way. Put another way, CO2e refers to the number of metric tonnes of any greenhouse gas emissions with the same global warming potential as one metric tonne of CO2 emissions.
We will be using the data we collect as the tour progresses to ensure we are continually meeting the highest achievable standards of sustainability, as well as to inform our future plans and tours.
While the technologies and practices outlined in the plan may not be available in every market on the tour, we will address the following areas wherever possible in order to achieve our climate goals:
For this tour, Shawn has revamped the merch practices and the merch itself. From sourcing materials to reducing shipping routes to point-of-sale, we'll use green practices that reduce emissions and follow industry standards for sustainability.
Our merch practices for the tour will include the following initiatives:
We’re carefully selecting resources, equipment, and vendors to help us create a big production with as small of a footprint as possible. Our plans include:
For travel and lodging, we’ve audited our previous tours and implemented a plan to help limit emissions as well as stay with partners that have committed to carbon positivity.
For segments of air travel, we will purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) made from renewable waste. Compared to standard fuel, SAF can reduce CO2e by 80% across its lifecycle.
A clean substitute for fossil-oil based aviation fuels. Rather than being refined from petroleum, SAF is produced from sustainable resources such as waste oils from a biological origin, agri residues, and even waste materials.
We will fuel our trucks and land transportation with Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel where possible, a renewable source that helps reduce CO2 by up to 90% compared to standard fuel.
HVO fuel is a second-generation, synthetic, advanced biodiesel alternative that significantly reduces CO2 emissions and other harmful pollutants such as nitrogen oxide (NOx), particulate matter (PM) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions. It is made from renewable materials such as plant byproducts and waste & residues.
Backstage and in the concourse, we will be implementing the following practices to make what’s happening at every venue less wasteful on the day of the show:
A primary goal of this tour is to reduce our environmental impact. We estimate we will be able to reduce our direct CO2 emissions by 50% per-show from the last world tour. While the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has called on organisations to target a 50% reduction in their carbon footprint by 2030, we pledge to do this within the span of one tour cycle.
To compensate for the unavoidable emissions that remain after our plans are implemented, we will offset all emissions created by the tour, its travel party, and fan travel to and from the venue. We will routinely calculate tour carbon emissions to ensure that our goals are being met and will select projects following the Oxford Principles for Net-Zero Aligned Carbon Offsetting.
Through a mix of carbon avoidance and carbon removal projects, we will invest in programmes that will offset 15% above our predicted carbon footprint in order to make the tour Climate Positive (also known as Carbon Negative).
Carbon removals are offsets generated by projects that remove carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere. Examples include biological carbon sequestration and nature based solutions (planting trees, soil carbon enhancement, etc.), bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), direct air capture with geological storage (DACCS), or converting atmospheric carbon back into rock through remineralisation. Removal projects are longer lasting, more permanent and have a lower risk of reversal.
We pledge to invest in Carbon Removal projects for all of our direct emissions in order to make the tour truly Climate Positive, by removing more CO2 emissions than are released.
Carbon avoidance projects contribute to climate action by preventing carbon that would have been released into the atmosphere. The benefits of carbon avoidance are usually short lived and often less permanent with a higher risk of reversal. Carbon Avoidance projects include: “renewable energy; avoiding emissions from fossil-fuel based alternatives; natural climate solutions, such as reforestation, avoided deforestation, or agroforestry; energy efficiency; and resource recovery, such as avoiding methane emissions from landfills or wastewater facilities; among others” (source)
We pledge to invest in Carbon Avoidance projects in order to offset the fan travel to and from our shows around the world through a combination of certified, credible, or verified projects and high quality nature and technology based solutions. On average, fan travel can account for anywhere from 70% to 90% of a tour’s total emissions.
Alongside our partners, we will be investing, donating and supporting various causes that offset emissions through a mix of Carbon Avoidance and Carbon Removal initiatives that cover five critically important areas of impact: rewilding & reforestation, oceans & blue carbon, power & energy, technology, and regenerative agriculture.
While climate change isn’t the only consideration in sustainability, we are tracking, reducing & offsetting our CO2e as it’s the most tangible way to measure environmental impact. The projects selected below will target CO2e directly, but also benefit other key parts of the puzzle like ocean acidification, freshwater use, land-system change and biosphere integrity.
CARBON REMOVAL PROJECTS
We have selected a range of high-quality nature based solutions that will negate the effects of climate change both on land and at sea. Each organisation and project has demonstrated high levels of additionality, permanence and is verified to internationally recognised standards.
In addition to nature-based removals, including regenerative cotton farming, we will also support the work of organisations using innovative technology solutions and to capture and store CO2.
CARBON AVOIDANCE PROJECTS
To combat climate change, we need to stop CO2 emissions at the source as well as removing what’s in the atmosphere. To tackle that we are selecting projects that avoid carbon emissions by stopping the use of fossil fuels, such as; wind farms, solar power and clean & efficient cookstoves in developing nations.
All these projects will be fully certified to the highest standards and provide both community and climate benefits.
Prizes for taking action with Propeller before the tour, or on site at the Social Imapct Village, may include:
We have partnered with Propeller to give Shawn’s fans the opportunity to take meaningful action for a chance to win exclusive prizes like a trip to Toronto to meet Shawn, tickets to shows, merch, and more.
Propeller is a community-funded, digital marketing platform at the intersection of social impact and culture that exists to inspire activism and build movements for change.
Winners of the Propeller sweepstakes will be chosen 12 days before each respective show date.
For those coming to Wonder: The World Tour, we will be providing fans with the opportunity to participate in local actions, donations, impact pledges, petitions & educational resources, including the opportunity to learn from a youth changemaker in your community.
By taking the actions, fans will be rewarded on site for sustainable activities, all tracked via Propeller.
Here’s how you can take part! Initiatives will vary by market and may include:
If you are a tour passport holder, make sure to collect stamps in your passport for completing actions and visiting the on-site activations including the Social Impact Village.
Taking the lowest-emitting form of transport to your local show is best for the environment, where possible and safe. Here is a list of potential ways to get to your venue, ranked from lowest-emitting to highest-emitting, compared to single person car travel:
*From a purely journey by journey CO2e perspective, carpooling produces less emissions than some forms of public transport. While that is true to an extent, public transport is operating anyway, while car travel is additional and therefore burns fossil fuels that would not otherwise be used. Climate scientists will therefore typically recommend public transport as a first option, before carpooling. (Source)
Fans can stop by the Social Impact Village in select markets to learn from local Wonder Grant recipients about their work and their causes. There they can find out how to take part in eco-friendly initiatives and educational opportunities, sign local and global petitions, or purchase a Wonder: The World Tour water bottle to refill with free drinking water. All powered by REVERB.
The booths at the village will include:
Throughout the tour and around the world in select markets, we will be hosting Service Projects in select cities where fans can volunteer locally to support their communities.
Stay tuned closer to the tour for when we announce the first projects!
Throughout the tour, the Social Impact Village will feature a petition wall for fans to sign local and global petitions. U.S. tour stops will also feature opportunities for fans to register to vote.
You can also participate from home! Here are a few petitions and opportunities to contact your legislators that you can explore now:
We will be updating this section throughout the tour with new petitions, so check back regularly.
For further reading and to learn more about out issues important to our fans, check out the following resources:
Check back throughout the tour as we will be adding more learning resources based on current events and tour programs!
