Festival Fringe in trailblazer vow over climate crisis
The organisers of the Edin - burgh Festival Fringe have vowed to turn the event into a trailblazer in tackling the climate crisis.
The Fringe Society has committed to take radical action to reduce the event’s impact on the environment as part of a drive to turn Edinburgh in into a net zero carbon city over the next decade.
The festival has joined the city council, Edinburgh University and NHS Lothian in signing a pledge to show leadership in reducing car - bon emissions and becoming more sustainable over the next decade.
Shona Mccathy, the socie - ty’s chief executive, said it was “hugely passionate” about managing the environmental impact of the event, which attracted a three millionstrong audience for the first time in 2019, but was called off this year in the face of the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the impact of the Fringe, which had been running since 1947, has been under increasing scrutiny in recent years and was cited as a key factor in Edinburgh being named one of the world’ s worst-affected over tourism hotspots last year.
Now the society has become one of the first backers of a“climate compact” which commits businesses and major employers in the city to take action in their own organisation and sectors to contribute to a green recovery and reduce the city’ s carbon emissions.
It has also been backed by bank NatWest and the Robertson construction group.
Key commitment sin the pledge, which is described as “a step on the path to a new normal of sustainable business practice in a thriving green city ,” include publishing details of emissions and a reduction action plan, setting out what is being done to promote the imp or tance of tack ling climate change and prioritising sustainable travel.
Ms McCarthy said :“Arts and culture can be sop owerful in telling the story of our climate emergency and in forming and influencing how we make change in an effective and significant way.
"We’re here to take ownership of our actions and help lead Edinburgh to a more sustainable future.
"We are hugely passionate about supporting carbon reduction and managing the Fringe’s environmental impact.
“We’ re keen to work in partnership with all those that make the Fringe happen to bring about substantial change. We’re proud to be making this commitment alongside these organ is ations.”
Council leader Adam Mcvey said: “Edinburgh’s net zero by 2030 target recognises the climate emergency we are facing and the need for all employers in the city to take urgent action to tackle climate change in order to secure a more sustainable future for the people who live and work here.”
Dr Sam Gardner, chair of Edinburgh Climate Commission, an independent body working to accelerate action on climate change, said: “Edinburgh’ s key businesses and employers can, and must, show leadership in delivering real progress on the net-zero future of the city."