At AEG Europe, our mission is to give the world reason to cheer, while safeguarding it for generations to come. We’re committed to operating responsibly and to catalysing the influence of live entertainment to preserve the planet, seeking to minimise our impact on the earth and raise public awareness about important issues that affect the environment.
We entertain over 160 million fans across over 220,000 events annually and as such, are acutely aware of our responsibility and take care to lead by example to ensure a sustainable industry and a healthier planet.
Our work is rooted in Science and we’re driven by four key goals that shape our sustainability mission:
Achieving net zero emissions is critical for the environment and for long-term business planning. AEG Europe are working toward a verifiable net zero strategy, with science-based targets which drive Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions down to an absolute minimum and tackle Scope 3 head-on.
The O2 in London has implemented many energy-saving initiatives across the venue to help achieve our goal of eradicating our carbon footprint while, at the same time, reducing energy usage and costs. The combination of different initiatives across the arena have helped significantly in reducing our Scope 1 footprint.
One of the major carbon-reduction projects is the transition to LED lighting across the entire arena. This has already resulted in saving 300,000 kWh of energy each year and reduced carbon emissions by over 60 tonnes yearly. In addition, improving the efficiency of the boiler system has enabled the arena to cut 30 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
The size of the venue also allows for huge carbon reductions when it comes to energy procurement. The O2 has been procuring a mix of wind, solar, and hydrogen power since 2015, avoiding 43,158 tonnes of CO2 emissions. This is the equivalent of driving around the Earth 7,494 times.
Waste pollutes the environment and releases carbon when produced and transported. AEG Europe has introduced circular material systems, with the aim being to get to a place where we only use what we need and divert all waste to reuse or recycling.
Reusable cups schemes have been implemented in Uber Arena and Uber Eats Music Hall in Berlin, as well as Barclays Arena in Hamburg, to help with our goal of eliminating our waste. Not only has this helped save almost four million cups from being disposed of, but in-house washing facilities help to eliminate off-site transport and the associated carbon emissions too.
Fans pay a €1 deposit with every drink purchased and receive their €1 once they return the cup. This deposit incentivises fans to return their cups and allows the system to remain circular.
From stadiums and concert halls to parks and fields, our operating environments are the core of our business. Caring for them, investing in them and nurturing them is essential not only for the long-term viability of our business, but also for the customers we serve and the communities in which we operate. We are working tirelessly to create nature-positive environments which are inclusive of all.
Barclays Arena in Hamburg started the FAME FOREST in 2019 to thank artists for performing at the venue and at the same time, create a thriving ecosystem. This initiative has made huge contributions to our endeavours to enhance our environments globally. For every artist that performs at Barclays Arena, a tree is planted and maintained within the FAME FOREST. “Star by star, tree by tree” a forest is created with flowering meadows, nesting aids for insects, and homes for honeybees. So far, over 12,781 trees have been planted and 10,000 have been donated to be planted, creating a habitat for over 200,000 honeybees to pollinate wildflowers.
The FAME FOREST has been a fantastic way to engage artists and fans in our sustainability efforts in a tangible way. As the forest grows, the ecosystem will continue to benefit, and more artists and fans will engage in conversations about sustainability and the strides Barclays Arena and AEG Europe have made over the year.
We entertain millions of people a year in venues and through festivals which are amongst the most recognisable on the planet. Studies have found that fans are hugely receptive to environmental initiatives, taking messages and learned behaviours from concerts home with them. As such, we have a power to inform, to educate and inspire change far beyond our day-to-day events.
In February of 2024, The O2 Arena in London hosted the first ever carbon removed gigs in collaboration with carbon removal experts, Cur8, and sustainable event specialists, A Greener Future.
Prior to the event, The O2 has worked tirelessly throughout the venue on various projects like transitioning to LED lighting, adding more plant-based food options on menus, procuring renewable energy, and processing all food waste on-site via wormery and digester. These initiatives have helped reduce the venue’s impact significantly. However, any live event will inevitably produce emissions – this is where removals come in.
During the 1975’s four-night residency at The O2, A Greener Future collected all emissions data from audience travel to food and beverage through to show production and demonstrated that the shows produced 546 tonnes of CO2e. Using those calculations, The O2 then funded a variety of carbon removal methods, from enhanced rock weathering to biochar production, that extracted the equivalent amount of carbon out of the atmosphere and durably stored it out of harms way.
As the most popular music and live entertainment venue in the world, The O2 are set on leveraging their voice to spearhead carbon removed events to not only draw attention to the environmental impacts that live music has on the environment, but also to inspire fans to take action in their own lives. That may start with prompting a conversation about climate change or purchasing an electric vehicle, the carbon removed events hope to prompt our fans to consider how sustainability can be woven into their daily lives.
For more information on venue and festival-specific sustainability practices and initiatives visit: