Fusing climate policy and culture - Music Declares Climate Emergency meets European Commissioner Mariya Gabriel

03 July 2020 - Press release

Earlier this week, Music Declares Emergency and IMPALA had a video meeting with Mariya Gabriel, the European Commissioner responsible for culture, innovation, research, education and youth.
 
Music Declares Climate Emergency, the recipient of IMPALA's 2019 Outstanding Contribution Award, is an initiative by over 3,000 artists, music industry professionals and organisations who have come together to declare a climate and ecological emergency and who call for an immediate governmental response to protect all life on Earth.
 
On the call, Music Declares Emergency was represented by Maddy Read Clarke (Founder member of Music Declares Emergency / Project Manager), Fay Milton (from the band Savages, founder member of Music Declares Emergency), Peter Quicke (Co-CEO of independent label Ninja Tune and founder member of Music Declares Emergency), Alison Tickell (CEO of Julie's Bicycle, a non-profit helping to mobilise creative action on climate change. Julie's Bicycle is also founder member of Music Declares Emergency).

The meeting follows a discussion with EU Vice President Timmermans earlier this year, which took place in Brussels just before the lockdowns.

Maddy Clarke commented: "Initiatives like Music Declares Emergency are there to ensure music plays its part in driving change. We welcome the EU’s ambition to fight climate change and would encourage a faster pace. The EU’s culture, research and investment programmes need to be geared towards accelerating a just transition."

Alison Tickell commented: "We had a very constructive discussion with Commissioner Gabriel. Culture has a critical role to play here as the climate challenge is also a cultural challenge. Our sector has already made real headway, reducing impacts and creating the resources and skills to make the changes needed for a Green deal. Together we can make a huge difference to the take up of the EU's Green Deal.”
 
Helen Smith concluded: “Ambitious goals are needed to limit climate change, and the EU’s investment framework serves a key purpose here. We need to ensure that the Recovery Plan and future EU budget fund culture to an appropriate level. This will help consolidate and reward ambitious action by artists and businesses in this area and will promote a Green Recovery.”