Event-related travel is still the biggest source of carbon emissions in the live events industry. Audience and operational travel can account for up to 80% of an event’s carbon footprint.
onboard:earth was founded by event organisers to address this challenge. We are a UK charity helping festivals, venues, and touring productions take meaningful climate action — starting with travel. Here are five reasons that now is the time to get involved:
1. It’s Free!
Travel is your biggest footprint — we help events of all sizes and scales to tackle it without costly membership fees: we want events and parties to protect, not pollute our planet.
With over a decade of hands-on experience, we offer practical, budget-conscious strategies to measure, reduce, and address travel emissions through environmental restoration projects — all grounded in real-world logistics.
2. Tools and resources to support your journey
We’ve developed a suite of free tools to help you take action. Informed by event organisers, pilot projects, environmental consultants and trialled and refined over 10 years in the live events industry our tools help you measure and understand your events’ travel impacts and reduce them with proven strategies.
- Carbon Calculators for audiences and operations, including app-based tracking and ticketing integrations.
- Best Practice Guides with templates, surveys, and case studies to help you collect quality travel data and embed low-carbon travel strategies and initiatives into your event planning.
Whether you’re just starting out or refining your sustainability strategy, we’ve got resources to support you – get in touch!
3. Build audience connection through climate action
Audiences care — Research shows that 81% of festival-goers expect all the festivals that they attend to tackle environmental impacts generated (CGA, 2023). By promoting low-carbon travel and inviting attendees to support restoration projects, you show leadership and build a values-driven community around your event.
4. Be part of a collective legacy
Our goal is to raise £1 million for environmental restoration by 2027.
Since 2015, onboard:earth has worked with over 160 events and 720,000 audience members, raising £740,000 for environmental restoration. From UK tree planting to rainforest protection and clean energy projects, every donation contributes to a just transition.
Join us today and be part of the impact
5. We help you take credible, low-risk climate action
We know climate claims can be complex and scrutinised. As a UK registered charity, we offer:
- Robust governance and due diligence on all environmental restoration partners.
- Clear, transparent methodology aligned with UK Government guidance on climate emissions.
- Ongoing updates on best practice and terminology so you can communicate your impact on the planet with confidence.
Learn more about our environmental partners