Accelerator City: Liverpool leads the way to net zero for creative industries

Liverpool is taking bold steps towards a sustainable future, setting a global precedent for the creative industries.

After being named the world’s first UN Accelerator City for climate action in late 2024, Liverpool has now revealed further details on how it plans to decarbonise its live music, TV, and film industries.

One of the most exciting developments is that Radio 1’s Big Weekend, set to take over Sefton Park from 23-25 May, will be at the heart of Liverpool’s UN Accelerator City programme.

The festival will act as one of eight ‘pilot projects’, designed to trial innovative ways to reach net zero.

In partnership with the BBC team, all elements of power, waste, travel and food will be looked at with an ambition to produce the most sustainable outdoor festival ever held in the city.

Credit: Radio 1's Big Weekend — Credit: Radio 1’s Big Weekend (2024)

Following a congratulations video from Simon Steill, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, details on other pilot projects – focused on decarbonising drama productions being made in the city, working on the sustainability of the creative sector in the city, smart new digital tools to monitor emissions as well as looking at how to reduce emissions with a range of music and cultural venues – will be announced in the coming weeks.

The Accelerator City team have also confirmed that a project director will be joining in the coming weeks to work with key partners including Ecotricity, Act 1.5, The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, GeoPura and SMI to make the most of the opportunity that 2025 presents.

Councillor Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, said:

“Our UN Accelerator City status is a bold and powerful statement of intent – we have a year to be ambitious, push boundaries, pilot new ideas and ultimately make a positive difference.

“Working with some of the best talent in the creative industries we can examine key pressure points and discover what alternative measures can be put in place to reduce carbon emissions.

“It’s a massively exciting time for the city and we’re delighted to be able to partner with a brand like Radio 1 and deliver what will be the most sustainable music festival the city has ever seen.

“And this really is just the beginning – we’ve got more exciting projects in the eco-pipeline which will tackle climate change and place Liverpool at the heart of the journey to a net-zero future.”